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MARIO UCHARD 


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by FAL STAFF PRESS 
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CHAPTER I. 

Château de Férouzat , 18 ... 

No indeed, my dear Louis, I am 
neither dead nor ruined, nor have I 
turned pirate, trappist, or rural guard, 
as you might imagine in order to explain my silence 
these four months since I last appeared at your illus- 
trious studio. No, you witty giber, my fabulous heritage 
has not taken wings ! I am dwelling neither in China 
on the Blue River, nor in Red Oceania, nor in White 
Lapland. My yacht, built of teak, still lies in harbour, 
and is not swaying me over the vasty deep. It is no 
good your spinning out laborious and far-fetched hyper- 
boles on the subject of my uncle’s will : your ironical 
shafts all miss the mark. My uncle’s will surpasses 


8 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


the most astonishing feat of its kind ever accomplished 
by notary’s pen; and your poor imagination could not 
invent, or come anywhere near inventing, such remark- 
able adventures as those into which this registered 
document has led me. 

First of all, in order that your feeble intellect may be 
enabled to rise to the level of the subject, I must give 
you some description of “the Corsair,” as you called 
him after you met him in Paris last winter ; for it is 
only by comprehending the peculiarities of his life and 
character that you can ever hope to understand my 
adventures. 

Unfortunately, at this very point, a considerable diffi- 
culty arises, for my uncle still remains and always will 
remain a sort of legendary personage. Bom at Mar- 
seilles, he was left an orphan at about the age of 
fourteen, alone in the world with one little sister still 
in the cradle, whom he brought up, and who subse- 
quently became my mother: hence his tender regard 
for me. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the fact 
that we two constituted the whole family, I only saw 
him during the intervals on shore of his sea-faring life. 
Endowed with truly remarkable qualities and with an 
energy that recognized no obstacles, he was the best 
fellow in the world, as you must have observed for your- 
self; but certainly he was also, from what I know of 
him, a most original character. I don’t believe that in 
the course of his eventful career, he ever did a single 
act like other men, unless, may be, in the getting of 
children — yet even these were only his “ god-children.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


9 


He has left fourteen in the Department of Le Gard, 
scattered over the different estates on which he lived by 
turns after he had quitted the East ; and we may well 
believe he would not have stopped short at that number, 
but that four months ago, as he was returning from the 
South Pole, he happened to die of a sunstroke, at the 
age of sixty-three. This last touch completes the 
picture of his life. As to his history, all that is known 
of it is confined to the following facts : 

At the age of twenty-two my uncle turned Turk, 
from political conviction. This happened under the 
Bourbons. The character of his services in Turkey 
during the contests between Mehemet Ali and the 
Sultan was never very clear, and I fancy he was rather 
muddled about them himself, for he served both these 
princes by turns with equal courage and equal devotion. 
As it happened, he was on the side of Ibrahim at the 
time that the latter defeated the Turks at the battle of 
Konieh ; but being carried away in that desperate charge 
which he himself led, and which decided the victory, 
my unfortunate uncle suffered the disgrace of falling 
wounded into the hands of the vanquished party. Being 
a prisoner to Kurchid-Pasha, and his wound having 
soon healed, he was expecting to be impaled, when, to 
his great joy, his punishment was commuted to that of 
the galleys. There he remained three years without 
succeeding in effecting his escape, when one fine day he 
found his services in request just at the right time by 
the Sultan, who appointed him Pasha, giving him a 
command in the Syrian wars. What circumstance was 

B 


10 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


it that cut short his political career ? How was it that 
he obtained from the Pope the title of Count of the 
Holy Empire ? Nobody knows. 

All that is certain is that Barbassou-Pasha, tired of 
his honours and having returned two years since to 
settle down in Provence, started off one morning for 
Africa, on a ship that he had bought at Toulon. 
Henceforth he devoted himself to the spice trade. 

It was after one of these voyages that he published 
his celebrated ontological monograph upon the negro 
races, a work which created some stir and gained for 
him a most flattering report from the Academy. 

These leading events of his Odyssey being known, the 
more private facts and deeds of the life of Barbassou- 
Pasha are lost in obscurity. As for his physical 
characteristics, you will remember the great Marseillais 
six-foot high, with sinewy frame and muscles of steel ; 
your mind’s eye can picture still the formidable, bearded 
face, the savage and terrible eye, the rough voice, the 
complete type in short of 4 ‘the pirate at his ease,” as 
you used to say, when laughing sometimes at his quiet 
humour. After all, an easy-going soul, and the best of 
uncles ! 

As for my own recollections, so far back as they go, 
the following is all I have ever known of him. Being 
continually at sea, he had placed me at school quite 
young. One year, while at his château at Férouzat, he 
sent for me during the holidays. I was six years old, 
and saw him for the first time. He held me up in his 
arms to examine my face and features, then turning me 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


11 


gently round in the air, he felt my sides, after which — 
satisfied, no doubt, as to ray build — he put me down 
again with great care, as if afraid of breaking me. 

“ Kiss your aunt !” he said. 

I obeyed him. 

My aunt at that time was a very handsome young 
woman of twenty-two to twenty-four, a brunette with 
great black, almond-shaped eyes, and fine features 
on a perfect oval face. She placed me on her knees and 
covered me with kisses, lavishing on me the most tender 
expressions, among which she mingled words of a 
foreign language which sounded like music, so sweet 
and harmonious was her voice. I conceived a great affec- 
tion for her. My uncle let me do just as I liked, and 
allowed no hindrances to be put in my way. Thus it 
happened that at the end of my holidays I did not 
want to return to school again, and should certainly 
have succeeded in getting my way, if it had not been 
that Barbassou-Pasha’s ship was waiting for him at 
Toulon. 

You may imagine with what joy I returned to 
Férouzat the next year. My uncle welcomed me with 
the same delight, and betook himself to the same 
examination of my physical structure. When his 
anxieties were satisfied, he said to me — 

“ Kiss your aunt ! ” 

I kissed my aunt : but, as I kissed her, I was rather 
surprised to find her very much altered. She had 
become fair and pink-complexioned. A certain firm and 
youthful plumpness, which suited her remarkably well, 


12 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


gave her the appearance of a girl of eighteen. Being 
more bashful than at our former interview, she tendered 
me her fresh cheeks with a blush. I noticed also that her 
accent had undergone a modification, and now very much 
resembled the accent of one of my school- fellows who 
was Dutch. As I expressed my surprise at these 
changes, my uncle informed me that they had just 
returned from Java. This explanation sufficed for me, 
I did not ask any more questions, and henceforth I 
accustomed myself every year to the various meta- 
morphoses of my aunt. The metamorphosis which 
pleased me the least was that which she contracted after 
a voyage to Bourbon, from which she returned a 
mulattress, but without ceasing still to be remarkably 
handsome. My uncle, it should be mentioned, was always 
very good to her, and I have never known a happier 
household. 

Unfortunately Barbassou - Pasha, being engaged in 
important affairs, stayed away three years, and when I 
returned to Férouzat, he kissed me and received me by 
himself. When I asked after my aunt, he told me that 
he was a widower. As this misfortune did not appear 
to affect him very seriously, I made up my mind to treat 
it with the same indifference that he did. 

Since that time I never saw any woman at the 
château, except once in an isolated part of the park, 
where I met two shadowy beings, closely and mys- 
teriously veiled. They were taking a walk, accom- 
panied by an old fellow of singular aspect, clothed in a 
long robe with a tarbouch on his head, who greatly 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


IB 


excited my curiosity. My uncle told me that this was 
His Excellency, Mohammed- Azis, one of his friends at 
Constantinople, whom he had taken in with his family 
after they had undergone persecution at the hands of 
the Sultan. He lodged him in another little chateau 
adjoining Férouzat, in order that they might be able to 
live more comfortably in Turkish style : those young 
persons were two of his daughters. 

After that year, I never again stayed in Provence : for 
my uncle, having settled in China and Japan, was 
absent five years, and my only relations with him were 
through his banker at Paris, with whom I enjoyed that 
solid and unlimited credit which you envied so much, 
and of which I availed myself with such easy grace and 
in such a superbly reckless spirit. 

You remember that I received a few months ago a 
letter announcing this sudden misfortune, and request- 
ing my immediate presence at Férouzat, to remove the 
seals and open the will : my poor uncle had died in 
Abyssinia. 

Well, the day after my arrival, I had only just got 
up, when Féraudet, the notary, was announced. He 
came in, literally armed with documents. I did not 
want to act like a greedy heir, but rather to put off for 
a few days all the most material questions ; my notary, 
however, informed me that “ there were certain clauses 
in the will which demanded an immediate examination.” 
My uncle had charged me, he said, with numerous 
trusts and legacies “ for the benefit of his god-children 
and of other parties living a long distance off.” All 


14 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


this was uttered in a mournful tone suited to the 
occasion, and at the same time with the manner of a 
person aware that he was the bearer' of an extraordinary 
document, and preparing me for its effect. Finally he 
opened the will, which was worded as follows : 


Château de Fèrouzat, . . . IS . . 

“I, the undersigned, Claude-Anatole-Gratien Bar- 
bassou, Count of Monteclaro, do hereby declare that I 
elect and designate as my universal legatee and the sole 
inheritor of my property: of all my real and personal 
estate, and all that I am entitled to of every description 
soever, such as . . . . , &c.: my nephew Jérôme 
André de Peyrade, the son of my sister : And I hereby 
command him to discharge the following legacies : 

“ To my much-beloved wife and legitimate spouse, 
Lia Rachel Euphrosine Ben-Lévy, milliner, of Con- 
stantinople, and dwelling there in the suburb of Péra, 
First, a sum of four thousand five hundred francs, 
which I have agreed by contract to pay her; Second, 
my house at Péra, in which she dwells, with all the 
appendages and appurtenances thereof; and Third, a 
sum of twelve thousand francs, to be distributed by 
her, as it may please her, among the different children 
whom she has by me. 

“ Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate 
spouse, Sophia Eudoxia, Countess of Monteclaro (whose 
maiden name is De Cornalis), dwelling at Corfu : First, 
a sum of five hundred thousand francs, which I have 
agreed by contract to pay her ; Second, the clock and 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


15 


the Dresden china, which stand on my mantle-piece ; 
Third, * The Virgin,’ by Perugino, in my drawing- 
room at Férouzat. 

“ Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate 
spouse, Marie Gretchen Van Cloth, dwelling at Amster- 
dam : First, a sum of twenty thousand francs, which I 
have agreed by contract to pay her ; Second, a sum of 
sixty thousand francs, to be distributed by her, as it 
may please her, among the different children whom 
she has by me; Third, my dinner-service in Delph, 
known as No. 8 ; Fourth, a barrel-organ, set with four 
of Haydn’s symphonies. 

“ Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate 
spouse, Marie Louise Antoinette Cora de La Pescade, 
dwelling at Les Grands Palmiers (Ile Bourbon), my 
plantation upon which she lives, including the annexes 
of Le Grand Morne. 

“ Likewise, to my much-beloved wife and legitimate 
spouse, Anita Josepha Christina de Postero, dwelling 
at Cadiz : First, a sum of twelve thousand francs, which 
I have agreed by contract to pay her; Second, my 
pardon for her little adventure with my lieutenant Jean 
Bonaffe.” 


If some very precise person should seek to insinuate 
his criticisms upon my uncle’s matrimonial principles, 
my reply would be that Barbassou-Pasha was a Turk 
and a Mussulman, and that consequently he can only 
be praised for having so faithfully obeyed the Laws of 
the Prophet — laws which permitted him to indulge in 


16 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


all this hymeneal luxury without in the least degree 
outraging the social proprieties — and for having in this 
matter piously fulfilled a religious duty, which his 
premature death alone, so far as we can judge, has 
hindered him from accomplishing with greater fervour. 
I trust that the God of tho Faithful will at least give 
him credit for his efforts. 

Having said so much on behalf of a memory which is 
dear to me, and having enumerated the chief clauses of 
the will, I may add in a few words that, after the pay- 
ment of my uncle’s matrimonial donations, and the 
various legacies to his “ god-children,” with those to 
his sailors in addition, there remained for me about 
thirty-seven million francs. 

“But, these children of my uncle’s ? ” said I. 

“ Oh, sir ! everything is in order ! The Turkish law 
not recognising marriages contracted abroad with un- 
believers, excepting in the case of certain prescribed 
formalities which your uncle happens to have neglected 
to go through, it results that his will expresses his 
deliberate intentions. Moreover, he had during his 
lifetime provided for the future of all his people.” 

I listened with admiration. 

“ So much for the legal dispositions of the will, sir,” 
said the notary, when he had finished reading it out. 

“ Now I have a sealed letter to hand to you, which 
your uncle charged me to give after his death to you 
alone. I was instructed in the case of your death 
preceding his, to destroy it without acquainting myself 
with its purport. You will understand, therefore, that 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


17 


I know nothing of its contents, which are for you only 
to read. Have the kindness, please, to sign this receipt, 
declaring that you find the seals unbroken, aud that I 
have left it in your possession.” 

He presented a paper, which I read and signed. 

“ Is that all ? ” I asked. 

“ Not quite, sir,” he replied, as he took another 
package out of his pocket. “ Here is a document simi- 
larly sealed which was addressed to me. I was only to 
open it in the case of your uncle’s will becoming null 
and void through your death preceding his. This docu- 
ment, he told me, would then give effect to his final 
wishes. Your presence being duly established, my 
formal written instructions are to burn this document, 
now rendered useless and purposeless, before your 
eyes.” 

Again he made me attest that the seals were untam- 
pered with, and taking up a candle from the writing- 
table and lighting it, he forthwith committed to the 
flames this secret document the provisions of which we 
were not to know. He then departed. 

When left alone, and still affected by these lively 
recollections of my poor uncle, I began to think of the 
letter which the notary had left with me. I divined 
some mystery in it, and had a vague presentiment that 
it would contain a decree of my destiny. This last 
message from him, coming as it were from the tomb, 
revived in my heart the grief which had hardly yet been 
allayed. At last, trembling all the while, I tore open 
the envelope. These were its contents : — 


18 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ My Dear Boy, 

“ When you read this, I shall have done with 
this world. Please me by not giving way too much to 
your grief, and act like a man ! You know my ideas 
about death : I have never allowed myself to be pre- 
judiced into regarding it as an evil, convinced as I have 
been, that it is nothing but the transition which leads 
us to a superior state of existence. Adopt this view, 
and do not cry over me like a child. I have lived my 
life ; now it is your turn. My desire is, that this old 
friend of yours should be cherished in your memory : 
you shall join him with you in your happiness, by 
believing that he takes part in it. 

“ Now let us have a talk. 

“ I leave you all my property, desiring to create no 
business complications for you : my will is drawn up in 
proper form, and you will enter into possession of your 
inheritance, which, you may rest assured, is a pretty 
handsome one. There is, however, one last wish of 
mine for the fulfilment of which I rely simply upon your 
affection, feeling sure that between us there is no need of 
more complicated provisions for ensuring its execution. 

“ I have a daughter, who has always shared with you 
my dearest affections. If I have kept this second 
paternity a secret from you, I have done so because 
circumstances might occur which would render useless 
the revelation which I am now approaching. My 
daughter had a legal father who had the right to 
reclaim her when sixteen years of age ; she is free now, 
her legal father is dead, she will soon be seventeen, and 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


19 


I entrust her to your charge. Her name is Anna Camp- 
bell, she lives at Paris at the Convent of Les Oiseaux, 
where she is completing her education. Her only rela- 
tion is an aunt, her mother’s sister, Madame Saulnier 
by name, who lives at No. 20, Eue Barbet de Jouy. It 
will be a sufficient introduction for you to call on this 
lady and tell her your name. She is aware that I have 
appointed you moral guardian to my daughter, and that 
it is you who will take my place. In short, she knows 
all my intentions . 

“I underline these words, for they sum up my fondest 
aspirations. I have brought up Anna with the view of 
making her your wife, and thus dividing my fortune 
between you ; and I rely upon you to carry out this 
arrangement. If marriage is for a man but a small 
matter, it is for a woman the most serious event in life. 
With you, I am confident that the dear girl will never 
be unhappy, and that is the thing of most importance. 
If I never return from this last voyage, you will have 
plenty of time to enjoy your bachelor’s life ; but I count 
upon your friendship to render me this little service by 
marrying her when the right time arrives. At present 
she is scarcely full-grown, and I think it will be best 
for you to wait one or two years. I can assure you her 
mother had a fine figure. You will find their portraits 
in one of the velvet frames in the drawer of my desk. 
(Don’t make a mistake : it is the one numbered 9.) 

“Now that this matter is settled, it only remains for 
me to give you one last injunction. If Féraudet has 
followed my instructions, as I suppose, he will have 


20 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


burnt a paper in your presence. This was a second 
will, by which my daughter Anna Campbell would have 
been appointed my universal legatee, had you not been 
living. So long as all happened in the right order, you 
surviving me, you will understand I should not have 
wished to complicate your affairs, by leaving you con- 
fronted with a lot of legal formalities and intricacies. 
Such would be the consequence of a female minor who is 
a foreigner inheriting jointly with you : this would have 
plunged you into a veritable mire of technicalities, 
restrictions, registrations, and goodness knows what. 
Nevertheless, it is necessary to provide fully for the 
possibility of an accident arising to you before your 
marriage with Anna. Our property would go in that 
case to collaterals .... and God only knows from how 
many quarters of the world these would not be forth- 
coming! As I wish my fortune to remain with my 
children, it is indispensable that you should not forget 
to make testamentary dispositions in favour of your 
cousin, so that the whole property may go to her in the 
event of your death, without any more dispute than 
there has been in your own case. I leave this matter 
in your hands. You will find at my bankers all the 
indications of surnames, Christian names, and descrip- 
tions which you will require to enumerate, on the first 
page of my private ledger, where the account which w r as 
opened for her commences, and yours also, forming a 
separate banking account for you two. Madame 
Saulnier is accustomed to draw what is required for her: 
therefore, until your marriage, it is unnecessary for you 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


21 


to occupy yourself with this detail — all you have to do 
is to confirm her credit. 

“Now that we have* settled this matter, my dear hoy, 
go ahead ! I do not need, I am sure, to remind you to 
think occasionally of your old uncle : I know you well, 
and that satisfies me. I thank you for what you have 
been to me, and bless you from the bottom of my heart ! 

“ Come, don’t give way, old fellow : I am in Heaven, 
my soul is free and rejoicing in the glories of the 
Infinite. Is there anything in this for you to mourn 
over ? Farewell.” 

After reading this letter, my dear Louis, need I tell 
you that I did the contrary to what my poor uncle hade 
me, and that I gave way to my grief. The tears 
streamed down my cheeks, my heart was breaking, and 
I could no longer see this last word, “ Farewell,” as I 
pressed the letter to my lips. 

Such a mixture of tenderness and elevation of tone, 
such touching solicitude to console my grief, such 
boundless confidence in my love and fidelity ! I felt 
crushed with my grief, proud only to think that I was 
worthy of the generosity with which this noble-hearted 
man was everwhelming me, prodigal as a father in his 
kindness. It seemed to me at that moment that I had 
never loved him enough, and the grief at his loss 
mingled itself with something like remorse. As if he 
were able hear me, I swore to him that I would live for 
the accomplishment of his wishes : from the depths of 
my soul, indeed, I felt certain that he saw me. 


22 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


When the flow of my tears had ceased, I did not 
want to tarry a moment in the accomplishment of his 
last behests. I ran to his bed-chamber, opened his desk, 
and found the two portraits. One, a valuable minia- 
ture, represents a woman of twenty-five, the other is a 
photograph of Anna Campbell at the age of fifteen. 
Although not so pretty as her mother, perhaps, she has 
a charming child-like face; the poor little thing felt 
uncomfortable, no doubt, when they made her sit, for 
her expression is rather sulky and unnatural. Still she 
gives promise of being attractive when she has passed 
the awkward age. I felt myself suddenly possessed by 
a sentiment of affection for this unknown cousin, whose 
guardian I had become and whose husband I am to be. 
Upon this cold picture I repeated to my uncle the oath 
to obey his wishes; then, taking up a pen, I wrote a 
will appointing Anna Campbell the universal legatee of 
all the property which my uncle left us. 

But one part of my inheritance, the most remarkable 
and the least expected, was at present unknown either 
to the notary or to myself. 

I don’t wish to make myself out better than I really 
am, my dear Louis : I must declare, nevertheless, that 
in spite of the very natural bewilderment which I felt 
on finding myself the owner of such a fortune, my first 
thought, when once I had disposed of the legal matters, 
was to pay a tribute of mournful regrets to the memory 
of my poor uncle. I should have considered it base 
ingratitude, not to say impiety on my part, to have 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


28 


shov/n myself too eager to enjoy the wealth bequeathed 
to me by so generous a benefactor. His loss really left 
a cruel void in my heart. I decided, therefore, at least 
to live a few months at Férouzat. I wrote immediately 
to the aunt of Anna Campbell, to express my resolution 
to fulfil the wishes of my second father, begging her to 
dispose of my services in every way as those of a pro- 
tector and friend ready to respond to every appeal. 
Four days afterwards, I received from her a most 
cordial and elegantly-worded letter. She assured me 
of her confidence in all the good accounts which 
my uncle had given of me ; and she gave me news 
of my fiancée , “who for one who is still only a 
child, promises already to develop into an accom- 
plished woman.’-’ 

Having discharged these conventional duties, I shut 
myself up in my retreat, and set to work. 

For me to say that my retirement was not more dis- 
tracted than I would have desired, might perhaps bo 
called a dangerous assertion ; but what could I do ? 
Was it not my duty to acquaint myself with all that my 
uncle bequeathed to me ? And the Lord knows what 
marvels my château of Férouzat contained ! Every day 
I made some fresh discovery in rooms full of curious 
furniture and antiquities of all ages and of all countries. 
Barbassou-Pasha was a born buyer of valuable objects, 
and the furniture was crammed with rich draperies, 
hangings, costumes, and objects of art or curios : my 
steward himself could not enumerate them all. 

But the most delightful of all these marvels is cer- 


24 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


tainly Kasre-el-Nouzha, my neighbouring property. 
Kasre-el-Nouzha was a Turkish fancy of my uncle’s. 
These three Arabic words correspond to the Spanish 
Buen-Retiro ; or, literally translated, they signify 
“ Castle of Pleasures.” This was the retreat, sepa- 
rated only by a party-wall from Férouzat, that was 
formerly inhabited by the exiled minister who had fled 
from the persecutions of the Sultan. Picture to your- 
self, hidden in a great park whose umbrageous foliage 
concealed it from view, a delightful palace of the purest 
Oriental architecture, surrounded by gardens, with 
flowering shrubs covered with a wealth of blossoms, 
standing in the midst of green lawns, a sort of Yale of 
Tempé transplanted, one might imagine, from the East. 
My uncle Barbassou, conscientious architect that he was, 
had copied the plan from one of the residences of the 
King of Kashmir. In the interior of the Kasre you 
might fancy yourself in the house of some grandee of 
Stamboul or of Bagdad. Luxuries, ornaments, furni- 
ture, and general domestic arrangements, have all been 
studied with the taste of an artist and the exactitude 
of an archaeologist. At the same time European com- 
forts are gratefully mingled with Turkish simplicity. 
The silken tapestries of Persia, the carpets of Smyrna 
with those harmonious hues which seem to be borrowed 
from the sun, the capacious divans, the bath-rooms, 
and the stores, all contribute in short to the complete- 
ness of an establishment, suitable to a Pasha residing 
under the sky of Provence. A little door in the park- 
wall gives access to this oasis. As you may guess, I 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


25 


passed many an hour there, and I dreamt dreams of 
“ The Thousand and One Nights.” 

All this time I had never interrupted my labours; 
for you need not suppose that my nabob’s fortune could 
make me forgetful of my inclinations towards science. 
In the midst of my numerous follies, as you know very 
well, and in spite of the distractions of the more or less 
dissipated life which I have led up to my present happy 
age of twenty- six, I have always preserved my love 
of study, which fills up those hours of forced respite 
that even the pleasures of the world leave to every 
man who is conscious of a brain. The Polytechnic 
School, and the search for x, in which my uncle trained 
me, developed very inquisitive instincts in me. I ended 
by acquiring a taste for transcendental ideas. This 
taste is at least worth as much as that for angling. For 
my part, I confess that I class among the molluscs men 
who, being their own masters, content themselves with 
eating, drinking, and sleeping, without performing any in- 
tellectual labour. This is why you call me “the savant .” 

I worked away, then, at my book with a veritable 
enthusiasm, and my “ Essay upon the Origin of Sen- 
sation ” had extended to several long chapters, when the 
critical event occurred which I have undertaken to 
relate to you. 

I had lived thus all alone for two weeks. One evening, 
on my return from Arles, where I had been spending a 
couple of days upon some business, I was informed that 
His Excellency, Mohammed- Azis, the old friend of my 
uncle, whom I remembered to have seen on one occasion, 

c 


26 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


had arrived at the chateau the evening before, not 
having heard of the death of Barbassou-Pasha. I must 
admit that this news gave me at the time very little 
pleasure ; but in memory of my dear departed uncle, I 
could not but give his friend the welcome he expected. 
I was told that His Excellency had gone straight to his 
quarters at Kasre-el-Nouzha, where he was accustomed to 
dwell. I hastened to send my respects to him, begging 
him to let me know if he would receive me. He sent 
word that he was at my disposition and waiting for me. 
I therefore set off at once to call upon him. 

I found Mohammed-Azis on his door-step. Gravely 
and sadly he received me with a salute, the respectful 
manner of which embarrassed me somewhat, coming 
from a man of his age. He showed me into the draw- 
ing-room, in each of the four corners of which bubbled a 
little fountain of perfumed water, in small basins of 
alabaster garnished with flowers. He made me sit down 
on the divan covered with a splendid silk material, and 
which, very broad and very deep, and furnished with 
numerous cushions, extends round the entire room. 
When seated, I commenced uttering a few phrases of 
condolence, but he replied to me in Turkish. 

This mode of conversing had its difficulties, so he, 
seeing that I could not understand him, started off into 
a Sabir or Italianised French, pronounced in an accent 
which I will not attempt to describe. 

“ Povera Eccellenza Barbassou-Pacha ! — finito 

morto ?” I replied in Italian, which he spoke 
indifferently well. We thus managed to get along. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


27 


I then related, to him the accident which had brought 
about the death of Barbassou, my uncle and his friend. 
He listened to me with a greatly distressed air. 

“ Dunque voi signor padrone ?” he replied, uneasily ; 
“ voi heritare di tut to ? — ordinare ? — commandare ? ” — 

“Let me assure you, Your Excellency,” I answered, 
“nothing that concerns you will he changed by my 
uncle’s death. I shall make it a point of honour to fill 
his place exactly.” 

He appeared satisfied with this reply, and breathed 
freely, like a man relieved of a great burden. In another 
minute he asked me if I would like to make the 
acquaintance of all his people. 

“I should be delighted, Your Excellency, if you would 
present me to your family.” 

He walked towards the door and summoned them by 
clapping his hands. 

I was expecting to see the wives or daughters of my 
host appear according to Mussulman custom, covered up 
with their triple veils. An exclamation of surprise escaped 
me when I saw four young persons enter, dressed in 
beautiful Oriental costumes, their faces unveiled, and all 
four endowed with such glorious beauty and youthful 
grace that I was, for the moment, fairly dazzled. I took 
them for his daughters. 

Hesitating and bashful, they stopped a few steps from 
me. In my bewilderment I could not find a word to 
say to them, until after their father had said something 
to them, they came up to me, first one, then another» 
and with shy graces and indescribable charms, each 


28 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


bowed and saluted me with her hand to her forehead, 
then took my hand and kissed it. 

I must admit that I completely lost my head. I don’t 
know what I stammered out. I believe I assured them 
that they and their father would find me, in the absence 
of my uncle, their respectful and devoted friend ; but, as 
they did not understand a word of French, my speech 
was lost upon them. However that may have been, 
after a minute or so they were sitting with their legs 
crossed on the divan, and all I was anxious about was 
to prolong my visit as much as possible. Mohammed 
told me their charming names. These were, Kondjé- 
Gul, Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra. He, like a proud 
father, was not backward in praising their beauty, and I 
joined in chorus with him, and certainly succeeded in 
flattering him by my enthusiasm regarding them. 

Indeed, all four of them were of such striking beauty, 
and yet so different in type, that you might have thought 
them grouped together in order to form the most ravish- 
ing picture, their large dark eyes, sweet, timid, and 
languishing like the gazelle’s, with that Oriental 
expression which we do not meet with in these climes ; 
lips which disclosed pearly teeth as they smiled ; and 
complexions which have been preserved by the veil from 
the sun’s rays, and which — according to the ancient simile 
— appeared really to be made up of lilies and roses. 
In those rich costumes of silk or of Broussan gauze, 
with their harmonious colours, revealing the forms of 
their hips and of their bosoms, they exhibited attitudes 
and movements of feline lissomness and exotic grace, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


29 


the voluptuous languor of which can only he realised 
by those who have seen it in Mussulman women. 
I imagined myself the hero of an Arabian story, and 
mad fancies entered my brain. 

While I was endeavouring, for appearance’s sake, to 
talk with their father as well as I could, they, growing 
tamer by degrees, began to whisper together — now and 
then came a little hurst of laughter, in which I seemed 
to detect some mischief. I playfully responded by 
holding up my finger to let them know I guessed their 
thoughts, and again they hurst out laughing like sly 
children — this going on until, after half an hour or so, 
quite a nice feeling of familiarity was established 
between us ; we talked by signs, and our eyes enabled 
us almost to dispense with the laborious intervention of 
Mohammed’s interpretations. Moreover, he seemed 
delighted to see us frolicking in this way. 

In order to teach them my name I pronounced several 
times the word “ André.” They understood and tried 
in their turn to make me say their names. Hadidjé’s 
was the occasion of much laughter, by reason of my 
difficulty in articulating the guttural breathing. Seeing 
that I could not manage it, she held me by both hands, 
her face almost touching mine, and shouted “Hadidjé ! ” 
I repeated it, “ Hadidjé ! ” This was charming and 
intoxicating. I had to take the same lesson from each 
of them ; but when it came to the turn of Kondjé-Gul, 
it was a delirium of joy. By some chance she let slip a 
word of Italian. I questioned her in this language, and 
found she knew it pretty well. You may imagine my 


80 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


delight ! Immediately we overwhelmed each other with 
a torrent of questions. Her sisters watched us with 
looks of amazement. 

At this moment a Greek servant came in, followed by 
two other women, bringing in the dinner on trays, 
which they laid upon small low tables of ebony inlaid 
with mother-of-pearl. 

Propriety and good breeding impelled me to take my 
leave after this very long visit, and I prepared to do so. 
Upon this my young friends murmured out a concert of 
confused words, in which I seemed to detect regret at 
my departure. Fortunately His Excellency intervened 
by inviting me to stay to dinner with them. 

Need I tell you that I accepted ! 

I sat down on the carpet, as they did, with my legs 
crossed, and we commenced a delicious banquet. 
Champagne was brought in for me, an attention which 
I appreciated. My place was next to Nazli ; on my left 
was Kondjé-Gul, and opposite me, Hadidjé and Zouhra. 
I will not tell you what dishes were served, my thoughts 
were set elsewhere. 

“ How old art thou ? ” asked Kondjé-Gul, employing 
in her Italian, which was tinctured with Roumanian, 
the Turkish form of address. 

“ Twenty-six,” said I, “ and how old art thou ? ” 

“ Oh, I shall soon he eighteen.” This “thouing” 
of each other was charming. She then told me the 
ages of the others. Hadidjé was the eldest, she was 
nineteen : Nazli and Zouhra were between seventeen 
and eighteen, the age of fresh maturity among the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


31 


daughters of the East, who ripen earlier than ours. 
Our gaiety and the prattle of their voices went on 
without cessation; but as they were drinking nothing 
but water, I said to Kondjé-Gul, thoughtlessly, 

“ Won’t you taste the wine of France ? ” 

At this proposition she gave such a scared little look 
that the others asked her to explain what I had said. 
This caused a great excitement, followed by a discussion 
in which the father took part. I was beginning to fear 
that I had given offence to them, when His Excellency 
at last said a few words which seemed to be decisive. 
Then Kondjé-Gul, blushing all the while, and hesitat- 
ing with divine gracefulness, took up my glass and 
drank — first with a little grimace like a kitten trying 
strange food, so droll and amusing was it ; then, later 
on, with an air of satisfaction so real that all of them 
burst out laughing. 

By Jove, I must say that at this frank abandonment 
I felt my heart beat just as if her lips had touched my 
own in a kiss. Imagine what became of me when 
Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé held out their hands all 
at the same time to claim my glass. They passed 
round the glass and drank, and I after them, perturbed 
by emotions impossible to describe. This unconstraint 
varied with bashful reserve, these fascinating scruples, 
which they overcame one after another, fearing no doubt 
to offend me by refusing things which they thought were 
French customs ; all their little ways in fact stimulated 
me, ravished me, and yet daunted me at times so much 
that I dare no longer brave their looks — although tho 


82 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


presence of their father was a sufficient guarantee of the 
innocent character of these familiarities. 

When the meal was over, the same Greek servants 
cleared the tables. Night-time arrived and they lighted 
the chandeliers. Through the closed shutters there 
came to us perfumes of myrtle and lilac. Cigarettes 
were brought : Zouhra took one, lighted it, and after 
drawing a few mouthfuls, offered it to me. I abandoned 
myself to their caprices. 

Now, Louis, can you picture your friend luxuriously 
reclining on cushions, and surrounded by these four 
daughters of Mahomet’s Paradise, in their lovely sultana’s 
costumes, frolicking and prattling, and all four of them 
so beautiful that I don’t know which I should have pre- 
sented with the apple if I had been Paris ? I assure you, 
it required an effort to convince myself that all this was 
real. After a little while I noticed that Mohammed Azis 
was no longer present ; but thanks to Kondjé-Gul, who 
had quite become my interpreter, our conversation became 
brisk and general. Hadidjé taught me a Turkish game 
which is played with flowers, and which I won’t try to 
describe to you, as I hardly understood it. 

If I were to tell you all that happened that evening, 
I should be relating a story of giddy madness and 
intoxication. I taught them in return the game of “hunt 
the slipper ; ” you know it, don’t you ? We played it as 
follows : there was a ribbon knotted at both ends, which 
we held, sitting on the floor in a circle, and on which 
slips a ring, which one of the players must seize in his 
hands. This, upon my word, finished me up. What 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


83 


laughter, and what merry cries ! Each of them, caught 
in her turn, chose me of course as her mark. Every 
moment I found myself seized and held prisoner in their 
naked, snowy arms. Upon my soul, it was maddening ! 

It was nearly midnight when His Excellency returned. 
I had lost all reckoning of the time; now I felt I must really 
make off. While I was getting ready and saying a few 
words to Kondjé-Gul, Mohammed Azis spoke to Zouhra, 
Nazli, and Hadidjé. I fancied that he was questioning 
them, and that they replied in the negative. Then he 
spoke at greater length to Kondjé-Gul ; he appeared to 
me to be pressing her to give him an account of my 
conversation with her, and that the result did not please 
him. I was annoyed with myself at the thought that, 
maybe, I had been the cause of her being reprimanded. 
At last he certainly ordered them to retire, for they 
came to me, one after the other, and each of them, as 
on entering, bowed to me in a respectful manner, 
saluting me with her hand to her forehead, and kissed 
my hand ; after this they went out, leaving me in a 
frame of mind disordered beyond description. 

I was just about to offer some apologies to Mahom- 
med, and make my peace with him before I left (for I 
feared that he might for the future place obstacles in 
the way of similar evening performances), when he said 
to me, with an anxious air, in that dialect of his which 
I translate, in order to avoid reproducing the scene of 
the mamamouchi8 in the “ Bourgeois Gentilhomme : ” 

“ May I be allowed to hope that your lordship is 
satisfied ? ” 


84 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Satisfied, Your Excellency? ” I exclaimed, affection- 
ately grasping his hands ; “ why, I am delighted ! You 
could not give me greater pleasure in this world than 
by treating me exactly as you treated my uncle.” 

“ The young ladies, then, did not displease your 
lordship ? ” 

“ Your daughters ? Why, they are adorable ! My 
only fear is lest I should not find them reciprocate the 
sentiments which they inspire in me.” 

“Ah ! Then it is not because your lordship is dis- 
pleased that you will not remain here to-night ? ” added 
he, with an anxious look. 

“ That I will not remain here ?” I replied. “ What 
do you mean ? ” 

“ Why, Your Excellency has not expressed his will to 
any of them.” 

“ My will ! What will, then, could I express to 
them ? ” 

“ Considering that they belong to your lordship,” he 
continued. 

“ They belong to me ? Who ? ” 

“WEy, Kondjé-Gul, Zouhra, Hadidjé, Nazli.” 

“ They belong to me?” replied I, overcome with 
stupefaction. 

“ Certainly,” said Mahommed, looking as astonished 
as I did. “ His Excellency, Barbassou-Pasha, your 
uncle, whose eunuch I had the honour of being, com- 
manded me to purchase four maidens for his harem. 
Since he is dead, and your lordship takes his place as 
master — I had supposed — ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


85 


“ Ah ! ! ! ” 

I won’t attempt to render for you the full force of 
the exclamation to which I gave vent. You may guess 
the feelings conveyed in it. In very truth I thought I 
should go out of my senses this time. The dream of 
“ The Thousand and One Nights ” was being realised in 
my waking hours ! This extraordinary and sumptuous 
palace was a harem, and this harem was mine ! These 
four Schéhérazades, whose glorious youthfulness and 
fascinating charms had scorched me like fire, they were 
my slaves, and only awaited a sign or token of my 
desire ! 

Mohammed, incapable of conceiving my agitation, 
regarded me with a pitiful, confused look, as if he 
anticipated some disgrace. At this moment the old 
Greek woman brought him the keys : there were four. 
He handed them to me. 

“ Thank you,” I said ; “ now you may leave me.” 

He obeyed, saluted me without a word, and went out. 

As soon as I found myself alone, not intending to 
restrain my feelings any more, I began to march about 
the drawing-room like a madman, and gave free vent to 
the outburst of a joy which overwhelmed me. I picked 
up from the carpet a ribbon dropped there by Kondjé- 
Gul, I pressed it to my lips with avidity ; next some 
scattered flowers, with which Hadidjé and Zouhra had 
played. 

Louis, I hope you do not expect me to analyse for 
your benefit all the extraordinary sensations which I 
experienced at that moment. The events which befel 


36 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


me verged upon the supernatural — the supernatural 
cannot be described — and I know not any legend, 
romance, or novel, relating to this world, which has 
ever treated such an astounding situation as that of 
which I was the hero. Those severe middle-class 
parents who give their daughters, for New Year’s pre- 
sents, M. Galland’s “ Arabian Nights,” with illustra- 
tions of the amorous adventures of the Caliph of 
Bagdad, would find such a romance as mine quite too 
“ strong,” simply because the scene is not laid in Persia, 
or at Samarcand. Nevertheless, my story is identical 
in character, and the most modest young lady might 
read it without a frown, if only my name were Hassan 
instead of André. 

Would you like to know everything that can agitate 
the mind of a mortal in such a position as mine ? 
Listen, then. 

When I had succeeded in reducing to some extent 
my exaltation of spirit, when I had at last persuaded 
myself of the reality of this splendid fairyland, I sat 
down with my elbows on the window-sill — I felt the 
need of a little fresh air. It was just striking midnight. 
What were they doing? Were they thinking of me, 
I wondered, as much as I was thinking of them ? I 
began to examine the four keys which Mohammed had 
left me. Each key had a tiny label, with a letter and a 
name on it — Nazli, Zouhra, Hadidjé, or Kondjé-Gul. 
My eyes were still filled with their beauty. Although 
far from artless, I felt embarrassed in spite of myself, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


37 


I might almost say shy. After the fascinations of this 
evening, I knew that I was in love ; I loved with a 
strange passion suddenly developed; I loved to over- 
flowing these beautiful beings, without being able to 
separate one from another. So completely were they 
mingled in my fancy, they might have possessed but one 
soul between them. By reason of my certitude of equal 
possession, Kondjé-Gul, Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra 
constituted in my imagination a single existence, exhaling 
its unrivalled perfume of youth, beauty, and love. 

All this may appear absurd to you. I daresay you 
are right, but I am only analysing for you an enchant- 
ment which still influences me like a dream. While 
longing for the virginal delights which awaited me, my 
tumultuous senses were plunged into, certain appre- 
hensions at once anxious and sweet. How am I to 
explain it to you ? Sultan though I have been in my 
life, never before have I come in for such a delightful 
windfall of pleasures, my heart having been generally 
occupied, as you know, with much less worthy objects. 
All at once I was overwhelmed by the idea that they 
had doubtless misunderstood the reserve which I had 
affected in their company. According to their harem 
traditions, customs, and laws, I was their legitimate 
master and husband : was it not quite likely, then, that 
they believed me indifferent or even disdainful of their 
charms ? Troubled at this reflection, I was seized with 
a dreadful pang of conscience. What could they sup- 
pose ? Good heavens ! Ought I to wait till the next 
day to dissipate their doubts, and justify myself for such 


38 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


strange coldness — coldness which may have seemed 
like indifference? I had no sooner conceived this 
thought than my desire concentrated itself upon one 
object, to see Kondjé-Gul again. 

I knew all the domestic arrangements of El Nouzha. 
In the centre of the edifice is a vast circular hall, to 
which the daylight is admitted by a cupola of ground 
glass, supported by pillars of white marble. Lamps 
hanging between the pillars give out a mysterious light. 
Once arrived there, I listened. All was silent. I found 
Kondjé-Gul’s chamber, and went close up to it. I 
listened again, with my ear to the door. An indistinct 
rustling which I heard, apprized me that she was not 
yet in bed. With key in hand, I still hesitated before 
opening. At last I made up my mind. 

Picture to yourself a sweetly perfumed room, both 
rich and coquettish in its arrangements, lined with 
Indian silk hangings of gay colours, and illumined by 
the soft light of a small chandelier of three branches. 
In front of a large glass Kondjé-Gul was seated, her 
long hair reaching down to the floor. With her bare 
arms uplifted, and her head turned backwards, she held 
in her hand a golden comb. Seeing me, she uttered a 
little cry, got up with a bound, and blushing all the 
while, and fixing upon me her great frightened eyes, 
she rested motionless and almost in a tremble. Her 
agitation communicated itself to me. 

“ Did I frighten you ?” I commenced, trying to speak 
with a firm voice ; “ and will you pardon me for coming 
in like this ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


89 


She did not answer a word, but lowered her eyes, a 
smile glanced furtively over her lips, and then, with her 
hand on her bosom, she bowed to me. 

“ Kondjé-Gul ! Dear Kondjé-Gul ! ” I exclaimed, 
touched to the depths of my soul by this act of sub- 
mission. 

And springing towards her, I took her in my arms to 
chase away her fears ; I kissed her brow, which she 
offered to me, pressing her face against my bosom, with 
a lovely bashful look of alarm. 

“ You have come, then ! ” she whispered. 

“Did you imagine I did not love you?” said I, as 
truly affected as she was. 

At this question she raised her head with an in- 
expressible languor and smiled again, looking into my 
eyes, and so close that our lips met. 

Louis, is it true that the ideal embraces the infinite, 
and that the human soul soars into regions so sublime 
that the blisses of this world below cannot satisfy it ? 

I did not want to quit the harem without 

having also seen Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli. Poor 
little dears, no doubt they already fancied themselves 
disdained ! I must dry up their tears. 

You will understand by this time the complications 
in my uncle’s will which have prevented me, these four 
months past, from finding a minute to write to you. 

I will relate to you the incidents of this remarkable 
situation, of this quadruple passion by which I am 
possessed to such an extent that I am sincere in all 
my professions. You may tell me, if you like, from the 


40 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


commonplace standpoint of your own limited experiences, 
that it is all madness. I love, I adore, after the manner 
of a poet or a pagan — as you like, in fact— hut what does 
it all amount to ? My uncle, who was a Mussulman, 
leaves me his harem ; what could I do ? 

If it should happen that your work leaves you a little 
leisure, don't come to Férouzat; you understand? 
That’s what we sultans are like ! The girls are dying 
to see Paris ; very likely I shall turn up there one of 
these days. 

I need hardly impress upon you, I suppose, the 
advisability of keeping this letter most carefully from 
the eyes of your wife. 




Madam, let me be very candid ; I have a warm tem- 
perament, certainly — more so, perhaps, than an ordinary 
Provençal. I will confess to even more than this, if your 
grace so wills it, and I will not blush for it ; but pray 
condescend to believe that I am also a respecter of con- 
ventional proprieties, and that I should feel most keenly 
the loss of your esteem in this regard. Now, from a 
few words of satirical wit, concealed like small serpents 
under the flowery condolences of your malicious letter, 
I concluded that this miserable fellow Louis, abandon- 
ing all considerations of delicacy, and at the risk of 


42 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


ruining my reputation, had played me a most abomin- 
able trick, by reading out to you all the nonsense which 
I wrote to him last week. You need not deny it ! He 
confesses it .to-day, unblushingly, in the budget of news 
which he sends me, adding that you “ laughed over it.” 
Good gracious ! what can you have thought of me ? 
After such a story, I certainly could never again look 
you in the face, but that I can clear myself by assuring 
you at once that all this tale was nothing but a mystifi- 
cation, invented as a return for some of his impertinent 
chaff regarding my uncle Barbassou’s will. Louis fell 
into the trap like any booby. But for him to have 
drawn you with him, is enough to make me die of shame. 

Madam, I prefer now to make my confession. I am 
not the hero of a romance of the Harem. I am a good 
young man, an advocate of morality and propriety, not- 
withstanding the fact that you have often honoured me 
with the title of “ a regular original.” Be so good as 
to believe, then, that the most I have been guilty of is a 
too artless simplicity of character. I did not suppose that 
Louis would show you this eccentric letter, for I had 
expressly enjoined him to keep it from you. My only 
crime therefore in all this matter has been that I forgot 
that a woman of your intelligence would read everything, 
when she had the mind to do so, and a husband like 
yours. 

In fact, madam, I hardly know why I have taken the 
trouble to excuse myself with so much deliberation. I 
perceive that by such apologies I run the risk of aggra- 
vating my mistake. What did I write, after all, but a 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


43 


very commonplace specimen of those Arabian stories 
which girls such as you have read continually in 
the winter evenings, under the eyes of their delighted 
mothers ? When I consider it, I begin to understand 
that your laughter, if you did laugh, must have been at 
the feebleness of my imagination — you compared it 
with the Palace of gold and the thousand wives of the 
Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid. — But please remember, once 
more, that I am a poor Provencal and not a Sultan. 

“ My tastes are those of a simple bachelor.” 

Observe moreover that, out of regard for probability, 
no less than from respect for local colouring, I was 
obliged to decide upon a somewhat simple harem, and 
to confine it within the strictly necessary limits. Like 
a school-hoy, falling in love with the heroine he has put 
into his story, I found myself so charmed with my 
fancy, that in order to further enjoy my pleasures of 
illusion, I determined not to overstep the limits of a 
perfectly realisable adventure. 

But since I abandoned myself to this folly, does it 
not seem to you, reconsidering the matter, that a great 
deal would have been lost if such a romance had never 
occurred to me ? And above all if it had stopped short 
at the first page ? Is it not astonishing that no author 
had thought of writing such a thing before? Would 
not this have been just the work for a moralist and a 
philosopher, worthy at once of a poet and of a scholar ? 
This poor world of ours, madam, moves in a narrow 
circle of passions and sensations, so limited that it 


44 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


seems to me as if every soul rather more lofty than the 
average must continually feel itself imprisoned. What 
felicity it must be, by a single flight of the imagination, 
to escape from this prison locked by prejudice ! To fly 
away into the regions of dreamland ! Slave of our 
civilized conventions, what bliss to run away unfettered 
into the shady paths of the pagan world, peopled with 
its merry, enchanting nymphs ! Or again to wander, 
like a happy child of Asiatic climes in gardens of syca- 
mores, where young sultanas bathe and disport them- 
selves in basins of porphyry. The Bois de Boulogne is 
a charming place, no doubt, madam ; but you will admit 
that it is inferior to the Valley of Hoses, and that the 
painted and bedizened young women you see there will 
bear no comparison with my houris. 

What, then ? Does my thirst after the ideal merit 
any censure ? Do not you consider, you who read 
novels, that it would, on the contrary, be an instructive 
as well as a curious study to follow up the strange 
incidents which would necessarily result from such a 
very natural conjunction of oriental love transferred to 
the midst of our own world? What contrasts they 
would provoke, and what strange occurrences ! Does 
not the absence of such a study leave a void in our 
illustrious literature ? 

But I divine upon your lips a word which frightens 
me — “ Immoral ! Immoral ! ” you say. 

Madam, this word shows me that you are strangely 
mistaken about my pure intentions. You are a woman 
of considerable intelligence; let us understand each 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


45 


other like philosophers or moralists. Suppose my name 
to he Hassan. You would read without the least ruffle 
on your brow the very simple narrative of my pretended 
amours, and if they were hindered by any untoward 
obstacles, you would perhaps accord them a small tribute 
of tears, such as you have doubtless shed over the mis- 
fortunes of poor Namouna. The question of morality 
therefore, is in this case simply a question of latitude, 
and the impropriety of my situation would disappear at 
once if I inhabited the banks of the Bosphorus, or some 
palace at Bagdad. 

Perhaps you take your stand upon the more elevated 
ground of “ sentiment ? ” Well, this is precisely the 
pyschological point of view that I am about to discuss, 
madam. Yes, if it were only in order to inquire whether 
the human soul freed from all constraint, is capable of 
infinite expansion, like a liberated gas. To mix positive 
and materialist science with etherialised sensualism, 
such is my object. A simple passion, we all know what 
that is ; but to adore four women at a time — while so 
many honest folk are well content to love one only — 
this seems to me a praiseworthy aspiration, fit to inspire 
the soul of a poet who prides himself upon his gallantry, 
no less than the brain of a philosopher in search of the 
vital elixir and the sources of sensation. Such a study 
would, assuredly, be arduous and severe, and would at 
any rate not be without glory, as you will admit, if it 
should happen to terminate logically in the triumph of 
the sublime Christian love over pagan or Mahometan 
polygamy. 


46 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Again, madam, in reprimanding me for my poor little 
harem, do you mean to preach against King David, or 
the seven hundred wives of Solomon ? Without going 
hack to the biblical legends of these venerable sovereigns, 
have you not read the classics ? In what respect, may 
I ask, is the poem of Don Juan more moral than my 
subject ? And did good old Lafontaine drop any of his 
artless probity, when he dipped his pen into the Boccac- 
cian inkpot? The morality of a given book, madam, 
depends entirely upon the morality of its author, who 
respects himself first by respecting his public, and who 
will not lead the latter into bad company, not wishing to 
corrupt it with bad sentiments. 

It gives me pleasure to draw the picture of those 
ideal amours which every warm-blooded youth of twenty 
has at one time or other cherished in his thoughts; 
to substitute virginal charms and graces for vice and 
harlotry — and after the manner of those charming 
heathen poets who have so often filled our dreams with 
their fancies, to mingle the anacreontic with the idyllic. 
Open any of your moral stories, madam, and I’ll wager 
my harem you will find that the interest in them is 
always kept up by adultery, in thought or in deed, which 
has been erected into a social institution ! The same 
Minotaur has served for us since the time of Menelaus. 
Adultery, adultery, always adultery ! it is as inevitable 
as it is monotonous ! 

Do you prefer the novel of the day, on the lives and 
habits of courtesans ? revelations of the boudoir, where 
all is impure, venal, and degrading? No, madam, I 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


47 


won’t proceed any further, out of respect alike for you 
and for my pen. 

Possibly your taste inclines you to those moralist’s 
studies of “ Woman,” in which the author warns his 
readers on the first page that “he does not speak for 
chaste ears.” Madam, it is my boast that I have never 
written a line which a virtuous woman might not read. 
.... My book will certainly lose thereby in the circu- 
lation which it will obtain ; but I shall console myself 
by the thought that if I sometimes cause you to smile, 
that smile will never be accompanied by a blush. Being 
the nephew of a Pasha, it struck me as a capital idea to 
lay the scene of a Turkish romance in Provence, and to 
found upon it a study in psychology. Every romance 
must be based upon love. Am I to be blamed, there- 
fore, because oriental customs prescribe for lovers dif- 
ferent modes of love ? Confess, if you please, that my 
heroines are more poetic than the young women à la 
mode , into whose company I had as much right as any 
other author to conduct my hero if I had so chosen. I 
will excuse myself by saying, like the simpleton De 
Chamfort, “Is it my fault if I love the women I do 
love better than those I don’t ? ” 

P.S. Above all things, not a word to Louis about the 
mystification of which I am making him a victim. 


You wretch ! here’s a fine pickle you’ve got me 
into ! What, after I confided to you the extraordinary 
adventures which I have passed through, relying upon 


48 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


your absolute secrecy and discretion, you go straight off 
and read my letter to your wife, at the risk of bringing 
upon me by your recklessness the most cruel gibes on 
the subject of my pasha-ship ! Can’t you see that if this 
story gets wind, Paris will be too hot a place for me ? 
I shall become the butt of the Society journals and the 
halfpenny press, who will treat me as a most eccentric 
and romantic personage. Never more shall I be able to 
set foot in club, theatre, or private drawing-room, with- 
out being followed by the stares of the inquisitive and 
the quiet chaff of the ribald ! I can picture myself 
already in the Bois, with all the loafers in my train 
pointing out “ the man with the harem.” Have you 
lost your senses, that you have betrayed me in this 
abominable fashion ? 

In all seriousness I now rely upon you to repair 
this blunder, by accepting, in the eyes of your wife, the 
part of one mystified, which I have made you assume. 
I wrote to her that not one word of this story is true, 
and that it is a romance I have been composing in order 
to occupy the leisure hours which I am forced to pass 
in the solitude of Férouzat, while the business connected 
with my inheritance is being wound up. In short, as 
I am positive that the first thing she will do will be to 
show you her letter, I expect you, if your friendship is 
good for anything, to pretend to believe it. Upon this 
condition only will I continue my confidences ; and I 
suspend them until you have given me your word of 
honour to observe discretion. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


49 


Having received your promise, Louis, I now resume 
my narrative at the point where I broke off. Now you 
will see what you might have lost. 

Just one word by way of preface. 

I am relating to you, my dear friend, a story which 
is more especially remarkable for the multitude of 
unaccustomed sensations with which it abounds, and 
which I experience at every step — for my amourous 
adventures, as you will agree, bear no resemblance to 
the ready-made class of amours. It would really have 
been a great loss for the future of psychology, if the 
hero of such adventures had not happened to be, as I 
am, a philosopher capable of bringing to bear upon 
them powers of correct analysis. 

First of all, if you wish really to understand the 
peculiarities of my situation, you must banish from your 
mind all that you have ever known of such amours as 
come within the reach of the poor Lovelaces of our 
everyday world. Those uncertain, ephemeral connec- 
tions of lovers and mistresses whose only law is their 
caprice, and which mere caprice can dissolve ; those 
immoral and dubious ties whose permanence nothing 
can guarantee, and in which one jostles one’s rival of 
yesterday and of the morrow — in all amours of this sort 
there is something precarious and humiliating. With 
our habits and customs no secret, no mystery, is pos- 
sible ; for however loving or beloved a woman may be, 
her beauty is exposed to every eye. It is like the enjoy- 
ment of communal property. In my harem, on the 
contrary, the charms of Zouhra, Nazli, and Kondjé-Gul, 


50 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


concealed from all other eyes, have never excited any 
passions but mine; my tranquil possession is undisturbed 
by the anxious jealousies which recollections of a former 
rival always awaken. Nor is the future less assured 
than the present, for their lives are my property ; they 
are my slaves, and I their master, in charge of their 
souls. So much for my preface ; now I will proceed. 

I will not disparage your powers of memory by re- 
minding you that my interesting narrative was broken 
off au premier lendemain — at the first glimmer of our 
honeymoon. The complete bliss, the enchantment of 
such moments, is certainly the most exquisite thing I 
have experienced. First the timid blushes, then the 
growing boldness and the fresh impression of first sensa- 
tions — all this and more, mingled with the contentment 
of entire possession. One gives oneself up entirely; 
all barriers are broken down by love — participation in 
one tender secret has already united the lovers’ souls, 
which seek each other and mingle together in a common 
existence. 

I had returned to the château before my people were 
up ; after a bath I slept again, and did not wake before 
noon. I breakfasted, and then waited till two o’clock 
before returning to El-Nouzha. Too great a haste 
would have seemed to indicate a want of delicacy, and I 
wished to show that I was discreet as well as passionate ; 
this time of day seemed appropriate from both points of 
view. 

To describe to you the condition of my feelings would 
be about as easy, you may imagine, as to describe a 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


51 


display of fireworks. There are certain perturbations of 
the heart which defy analysis. The enchantment which 
held me spell-bound, intoxicated my mind like fumes of 
haschisch, and I could hardly recognise myself in this 
fairy-world character ; it required an effort on my part 
to assure myself of my own identity, and that I was not 
misled by a dream. No, it was myself sure enough ! 
Then I remembered that I was going to see them again. 
My darlings were waiting for me. No doubt they had 
already exchanged confidences. What kind of reception 
should I have ? My duties as Sultan were so new to 
me that I trembled lest I should commit some mistake 
which would lower me in their eyes ; I was walking 
blindfold in this paradise of Mahomet, of whose laws I 
was ignorant. Ought I to maintain the dignified bear- 
ing of a vizir, or abandon myself to the tender attitudes 
of a lover ? In my perplexities I was almost tempted 
to send for Mohammed- Azis, to request of him a few 
lessons in deportment as practised by the- Perfect Pasha 
of the Bosphorus ; but perhaps he would disturb my 
happiness? As to introducing a hierarchy into my 
harem, I would not hear of such a thing ; for to tell the 
truth, the choice of a favourite would be an impossibility 
for me. I loved them all four with an equal devotion, 
and could not even bear the thought of their being 
reduced to three without feeling the misery of an 
unsatisfied love. 

At last the hour having arrived without my mind 
being decided, I wisely determined to act as circum- 
stances might dictate, and started off in the direction 


52 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


of my harem. I think I have already told you that a 
small door of which I alone possess the key, com- 
municates between my park and El-Nouzha. From 
this door a sort of labyrinth leads to the Kasre by a 
single narrow alley, which one might take for a disused 
path. When I reached the last turn in this alley which 
terminates in the open gardens, I perceived under the 
verandah Mohammed- Azis, who seemed to be watching 
me — he ran towards me with an eager and delighted 
appearance, and salem aleks without end. 

By his first words I gathered that he knew all. 

When I asked after them, he told me that I was ex- 
pected ; then all at once I heard merry voices, followed by 
the noise of hurrying footsteps mingled with rustlings 
of silk dresses. Soon I saw coming out under the 
verandah, struggling together to be the first to reach 
me, Hadidjé, Nazli, Kondjé-Gul and Zouhra ; they 
threw themselves into my arms all four at once, laugh- 
ing like children, hugging me, and holding up their 
rosy lips, each vying with the other for my first kiss. 
What laughter, what merry, bird-like warbling of voices ! 
And all this with the natural abandonment of youth and 
simplicity — I was about to say innocence — so much so 
that I was quite taken aback. But all of a sudden, at a 
word from Mohammed, who was looking at us affec- 
tionately, and more and more delighted every minute, 
they stopped quite confused. He had, no doubt, repri- 
manded them for some breach of decorum, for they, 
slipping gently aside, held their hands up to their 
foreheads. You may guess I soon cut short these 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


53 


respectful formalities, by drawing them back into my 
arms. . . . Whereupon renewed laughter and merriment 
ensued, accompanied with little glances of triumph at 
poor Mohammed, who assumed a scandalised expression, 
lifting up his hands as if to make Heaven a witness that 
he was not responsible for this neglect of all Oriental 
etiquette ! After this scene, you will easily understand 
that I did not trouble my head any more about the 
difficulties which I had anticipated in my family duties. 
I had apprehended a very delicate situation, aggravated 
by growing jealousies ; by the susceptibilities of rivals, 
offended airs, perhaps even the reproaches and tears oî 
betrayed love. 

Five minutes later we were running about the gardens. 
Having only arrived two days before, they had not yet 
been outside the harem. The sight of their domain 
pleased them immensely, and their young voices prattled 
away with a musical volubility fit to gladden the hearts 
of the very birds. At each step they made some new 
discovery, some bed of flowers, or some shady path at 
the bottom of which the sound of a waterfall could be 
heard, carried off by sparkling brooks running on beds 
of moss over the whole length of the park until they 
lost themselves in the lake; over these brooks were 
placed at intervals little foot-bridges painted in bright 
colours. All these things gave rise to questions. 
Naturally Kondjé-Gul was always the interpreter ; they 
all listened, opening their eyes wide ; then they started 
off again, plucking flowers from the bushes, which they 
placed in their hair, in their bosoms, and round their 


54 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


necks. In order to attract my admiration for these 
adornments, each of them kept running up to me as if 
she wanted a kiss. 

If you want to know the thoughts and feelings of a 
mortal under these circumstances, I must confess that 
it is quite beyond my power to explain them to you. I 
was bewildered, captivated, and surprised by such novel 
sensations that without reflection or conscious analysis, 
I simply abandoned myself to them. If you wish to 
understand them, my dear fellow, you must first acquire 
some aesthetic notions which, artist though you are, you 
do not yet possess ; you must familiarise yourself with 
these entirely exotic charms of the daughters of the 
East, their youthful simplicity and ease combined with 
a certain voluptuous nonchalance , the undulating move- 
ments of their hips acquired by the habit of moving 
about in Oriental slippers, their lissom and feline 
graces, and the overwhelming fascination of their lan- 
guishing eyes. You must see them in these strange pic- 
turesque costumes, so artistically revealing their graceful 
forms, in wide silk trousers, tied round at the ankles, and 
drawn in at the waist by a rich scarf of golden gaufce : you 
must see them in their jackets embroidered with pearls, 
and open bodices of Broussan silk transparent as gauze ; 
or in the long robe open in front, the train of which they 
hold up by fastening it to the waist when they want to 
walk about freely — all these things in soft well-toned 
colours, blending wonderfully together. It was a 
dazzling scene of fresh beauty and strange enchantment, 
such as I cannot attempt to describe. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


55 


Once we arrived at the end of a ravine, where we 
were obliged to cross the brook by stepping-stones set 
in its bed. Thereupon they cried out with fright. I 
prevailed upon Zouhra, who seemed to be the bravest, 
to cross holding my hand. Hadidjé followed her ; but 
when it came to Nazims turn, the timid creature hung 
to my neck as if terrified by some great danger ; so I 
took her up in my arms and carried her across to the 
opposite side. Kondjé-Gul, like a coquette that she 
is, followed her example. 

“ Oh ! carry me too,” she cried. 

As I was holding her over the brook, one of her 
slippers fell into the water. You may guess how they 
laughed; there was Kondjé-Gul hopping about on one 
foot while I was fishing out the little sandal, which I 
had to dry in order to avoid wetting her soft green- silk 
stocking. 

It was one of the most charming spots in the park : 
a great carpet of turf shaded by a clump of sycamores. 
We all sat down. . . 

You have, doubtless, seen plenty of pictures on the 
subject of “ Dreams of Happiness.” There is a delightful 
garden, at the bottom of which stands the temple of 
Love; the figures, handsome young men and hand- 
some young women, are always found reclining. Well, 
if you exclude from such a picture details somewhat too 
academic for Férouzat, you may see me on the grass, 
enjoying the fresh air with my houris lying down 
around me, in the charming abandoned attitudes of 
young nymphs who have never heard of such a thing as 


56 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


stays, but display in bold relief the well-rounded forms 
of their beautiful and lissom figures. 

I had passed my arm round Zouhra’s neck ; she, with 
a fond look, rested her head against me, and Hadidjé 
imitated her on the other side. I began to talk to 
Kondjé-Gul, the sole interpreter of my amours. You 
may guess how curious I was to learn their thoughts. 
I questioned her about the events of the morning, and 
what they had been saying to each other. Directly she 
replied, I learnt that when they first got up there was, as 
the result of their mutual confidences, a general astonish- 
ment. But Mohammed explained everything, by telling 
them that “ such is the custom in the French harems. ,, 
This explanation was sufficient for them. You may be 
sure I did not contradict such a flattering assurance. 

“Well then, you like my country,” I said to her; 
“ and they are all content that they have come here ? ” 

“ Oh, yes ! ” she exclaimed, “ especially since we 
saw you ! Mohammed had led us to believe that you 
were old. We feared we were about to enter upon a 
dull and formal existence. So you may imagine how 
delighted we were when you arrived, and he told us our 
master was you ! At first we could not believe it, but 
as he had let us appear unveiled, we were constrained to 
admit that he had not deceived us. And then, when I 
heard you speak to him — I understood all. Immediately 
I repeated to them your words, and how that you found 
us handsome.” 

“ And so,” I replied, “ I may believe you really love 
me ? And do they also ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


57 


She looked at me with an astonished air, as if this 
question conveyed no meaning to her. 

“ Why, of course; since you are kind, affectionate, and 
nice to us ! ” 

The others listened attentively without understanding 
a word ; their handsome eyes wandered from Kondjé- 
Gul to me, and from me to Kondjé-Gul, with an in- 
describable expression of curiosity. 

“But you," she replied after a moment, “is it really 
true that you mean always to love us all, one as much 
as another, as you have done to-day ? ” 

“ Certainly,” I replied with assurance; “this is the 
custom in our harems, as Mahommed told you. Does 
not that please you better ?” 

“ Oh, yes ! ” she exclaimed, “ but we always thought 
that you Franks never loved more than one woman.” 

“ That’s what they keep saying in Turkey, to injure us, 
and out of jealousy, because we do not ordinarily marry 
more than one wife, to whom it is our duty to be faithful.” 

“ But — what happens then, when a man has four, as 
you have ? ” she inquired. 

“ We are equally faithful to all the four !” I replied, 
without wincing. 

“ Oh, what happiness ! ” she exclaimed, clapping her 
hands with joy. 

And immediately, with the volubility of a bird, she 
began to talk to the others, translating to them every- 
thing which we had just been saying. They were all in 
transports of merriment. 

louis, I won’t proceed any further. I can guess the 


58 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


stupid reflections which will occur to you on tho subject 
of this very simple situation which you, like one left 
behind, buried deep in the ruts of your absurd prejudices, 
take the liberty of judging from afar. Yes, confess it 
without reserve ; you, moving in the limited sphere of 
your own feeble experiences, are about to pronounce my 
amours eccentric. On the fallacious ground that it is 
unnatural to love and be loved by four women at a time, 
you, like any other miserable sceptic, are shocked by the 
freedom of simple sentiments which you are unable to 
appreciate. First, then, let me assure you that in their 
own minds none of them conceived the slightest irregu- 
larity in their position. According to the laws and 
customs of their country, they believed themselves to bé 
my wives by a tie as perfect and as legitimate in their 
eyes as that of marriage in ours. They are my cadines , 
a position which creates for them duties and rights 
defined by the Koran itself. 

Next, out of consideration for your poor intellect, let 
me inform you also that under the blessed skies of 
Turkey the wife has no such presumptuous ambition as 
that of possessing a husband all to herself. Beared 
with a view to the harem, the young girl aims no higher 
in her ambitious fancy than to become the favourite and 
outshine her rivals ; but never, never in the world, does 
she conceive the outlandish notion of becoming the sole 
object of the affections of lover, master, or husband. The 
ideal of girls like Zouhra, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Kondjé- 
Gul, is the life which I am now giving them ; they 
abandon themselves to it, as to the realisation of their 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


59 


hopes. Their notions respecting the destiny of woman 
do not go beyond this happiness, which they now possess, 
of pleasing their master and being loved in this way by 
him. It is no use, therefore, for you to string together 
a lot of conventional abstractions with a view to drawing 
from them any deductions applicable to the laws of the 
Kingdom of Love. 

The truth is that TIadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra burst 
into transports of joy when Kondjé-Gul repeated to 
them my promise to be “faithful to all four of them.” 

My dear fellow, there is a great deal of the child 
remaining in these creatures, who seem to have been 
only created to expand their beauty, as flowers are to 
exhale their perfume. Cloistered in the life of the 
harem, their ideas do not reach beyond the horizon of 
the harem. Their hearts and their minds have only 
been cultivated by recitals of wonderful legends and of 
superstitious romances of love ; they know nothing else. 

You may say, if you like, that they are just pretty little 
animals without souls — but you would be wrong. Again 
I repeat, most of our so-called refined and civilised ideas 
about sentiment, virtue, propriety, and modesty, are con- 
ventional ideas, differing according to place, climate, and 
habits ; and this you will see clearly by following my 
story, which I may with good reason call natural history, 
for when I take the instincts of my little animals by 
surprise, they display for a moment bold impulses which 
bear much more resemblance to genuine innocence of 
mind than do certain affectations of modesty practised 
by the young ladies of our educated society. 


60 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


The slipper being nearly dry, Kondjé-Gul put it on 
her little arched foot, with its famous light green silk 
stocking, and we recommenced our course through the 
park. I will say nothing about a row we took in 
a boat on the lake, with great willows on its hanks. 
The swans and the Mandarin ducks followed us in 
procession. 

Mohammed, like a wise man, had foreseen that I should 
stay at thé Kasre. The dinner this time was served in 
the French style. He did not sit down with us as he 
had done the day before ; I had no longer need of him, 
and he returned to the obscure position which he was 
henceforth to occupy during my visits. I sat down to 
table, therefore, with my houris ; and this meal, in which 
everything was new to them, became a veritable feast. 
They nibbled and tasted a bit of everything with excla- 
mations of surprise, with careful investigations, and 
with little gourmandish airs of inexpressible charm. 
I should tell you that my cook only won their unanimous 
approbation at dessert, when they commenced to make 
a sort of second dinner off sweets and cakes, creams 
and fruit. The champagne pleased them above all things, 
and would have ended by turning their little heads, but 
for my careful attention. Whilst they vied with each 
other in merriment and gay prattle, I was thinking of that 
oriental meal of the night before in which I had seated 
myself by them in the reserved attitude of a stranger. 
What a dream fulfilled ! What fairy’s wand had pro- 
duced this magical effect ? I tell you it was a regular 
transformation scene. At dessert Hadidjé bent her head 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


61 


down to me with a mischievous look, and laughed as 
she spoke some Turkish word. 

“ Sana yanarim !” I replied, emphasizing the sen- 
tence with a kiss on her hand. I had learnt from 
Kondjé-Gul that it means “ I love you,” or more 
literally, “lam burning for you.” 

You may guess how successful this was, and with 
what shouts of joy it was received. Of course there 
followed a little make-believe scene of jealousy on the 
part of the others. 

“ Kianet ! ah, Kianet ! ” they repeated, laughing, and 
threatening me with uplifted fingers. This expression 
signifies “ungrateful.” 

When evening arrived I took them into the park to 
calm the warmth of their emotions down a little. It 
was a splendid moonlight night, and the long black 
shadows of the trees stretched over the walk. As we 
passed these dark places the timid creatures pressed 
close about me. 

Ah ! well, you don’t expect me, I suppose, to tell you 
how this day was concluded ? Affairs of the harem, my 
dear fellow ! — affairs of the harem ! 

As to my other news, I hardly need tell you that 
nobody in this neighbourhood has a suspicion of the 
secrets of El-Nouzha. In my external life I conform 
to all the social requirements of my position. I visit 
my uncle’s old friends, Féraudet the notary, and the 
good old vicar, who calls me the Providence of the place. 
Once a week I dine with the doctor, Morand ; who has a 
son, George Morand, an officer in the Spahis, on leave 


62 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


for the present at Férouzat ; and an orphan niece, a 
young lady of nineteen, lively and sympathetic. She is 
engaged to her cousin the captain, who is a regular 
Africain , a fire-eater you may call him, but a good 
fellow in the full sense of that word — one of those open 
natures made for devotion, like a Newfoundland dog, or 
a poodle. He is both formidable and patient. Such is 
my friend! We were playmates as children, and he 
would not brook the slightest insult to me in his 
presence. He wonders very much at my anchorite’s 
life, and in order to divert me from it, endeavours to 
draw me into the hidden current of rustic gallantries 
which he indulges in while awaiting the day of Hymen. 





P Avril ir.v 



In the detailed account which I gave you, 


my dear Louis, of my honeymoon, I described 
pretty nearly the history of every day which has passed 
since I last wrote. “ Happy nations have no history,” 
said a wise man ; happiness requires no description. 
First then, you must understand that I am now writing 
after recovery from the natural excitement into which 
my strange adventures had plunged me. Three months 
have passed ; I am now enjoying my life like a refined 
vizir, and no longer like a simple troubadour of Provence, 
transported of a sudden into the Caliph’s harem. I have 
recovered my analytical composure. 

As you may well imagine I set to work, after the 
second day, to learn Turkish, an easy task after my 


64 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


studies in Sanscrit. Add to this that, with the aid of love, 
my houris have learnt French, with all the marvellous 
facility and linguistic instinct of the Asiatic races. You 
will not he astonished to learn, then, that I can now 
share with them all the pleasures of conversation; a 
happy result which will permit me henceforth to furnish 
a more complete description of their different characters. 

Having said this, I will give you in the present 
letter, with a view of enabling you to understand this 
narrative more perfectly, the most precise details upon 
the following subjects : 

First — The organisation, laws, and internal regulations 
of my harem ; 

Second — Full-length portraits of my odalisques, and 
a description of their characters ; 

Third — A careful dissertation upon the advantages of 
polygamy, and its applicability to the moral regeneration 
of mankind. 

I will first confess, without any presumption, that the 
ingenious system established for the conduct of my 
harem is all due to my uncle Barbassou, who, as much 
as any man in the world, was always particularly careful 
to maintain what the English term “ respectability.” 
In the eyes of the whole neighbourhood, nay, even of 
my own household, Mohammed- Azis is an exile, a person 
of high political rank, to whom my uncle had given a 
hospitable retreat. 

Barhassou-Pacha always addressed him respectfully 
as “ Your Excellency,” nor did any servant in the 
chateau speak in different terms of him. He had had 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


65 


the misfortune to lose one of his daughters — so the 
story goes — for he seems to have had originally five. 
Whether his daughters are young or old, no one knows. 
In the interior of the Kasre all the services are per- 
formed by Greek women, who do not know a word of 
French ; they never go out of doors. The gardeners have 
to leave the gardens at nine o’clock in the morning. All 
these arrangements, as you will perceive, are extremely 
correct. The story about Mohammed is a very plausible 
one ; his solemn and melancholy expression together 
with his solitary life, are thoroughly in conformity with 
the fallen grandeur of a minister in disgrace. He is 
writing, according to report, a memoir in justification 
of his conduct. He works at it both day and night, 
and it is well-known that I very often sit up quite late 
with him, in order to assist him in this task. 

As for me, I do not suppose you imagine that, like 
the Knight Tannhauser on the Yenusberg, I am con- 
tinually wasting my spirit and my strength over what 
Heine calls “the sweets and dainties of love; , ’ or 
that the philtres of Circe have transformed me into a 
hog like the companions of Ulysses. — Go gently, my 
dear fellow! I am a representative of the learned 
cohort, please to remember ! I keep a careful diary of 
my observations, from which I intend to draw up a 
report for the Academy. Like those bold investigators 
of pathological science who inoculate themselves with a 
deadly virus in order to study its effects upon them- 
selves, I, a serious analytical student, am devoting 
myself to a course of experiments in pure sensualism, 


66 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


to the sole profit of Science. Without restrictions, hut 
in full consciousness of the high mission which I have 
undertaken ; without cheating myself with too small a 
dose of the intoxicating draught, I act like an honest 
Epicurean. I take of the voluptuous delights of my 
harem as large a dose as an intelligent and refined 
student of nature ought to require, hut without im- 
prudently overstraining the springs of sensation. Armed 
with the dexterity of superior wisdom, I, floating on 
this Oriental stream of Love, knotv how to remain 
faithful to my charge, by avoiding the rocks of satiety 
and the shipwreck of illusions. 

Every day then, about three o’clock, after having 
devoted the morning to my business affairs or to my 
“ Essays on Psychology,” I go to El-Nouzha, and stay 
there usually until the middle of the night. How- 
ever, I sometimes go there of a morning, for a hath ; 
I am teaching my houris to swim. I must tell you 
that in this matter, indispensable for the comfort of 
the sultanas, Barbassou-Pasha designed a marvel. In 
the middle of an island in the lake (which is taken from 
the delightful garden of See-ma-Kouang, the famous 
Chinese poet), picture to yourself a great marble basin 
surrounded by a circular arcade, a sort of atrium open 
to the sky. Under a colonnade and in its cool shade, a 
fine Manilla mat covers the flag-stones. The base of 
the inner walls is enlivened with frescoes, after Pom- 
peian and Herculanean models. Round the white 
pillars cling myrtles and climbing roses, reaching up 
to the terrace ornamented with vases and statues, which 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


67 


stand out in relief against a mass of purple drapery. 
Here are set capaciaus divans in leather, hammocks, 
carpets, and cushions to recline upon. Such is the 
aspect of this enchanting place. On many a hot morn- 
ing we have breakfasted there, and it is from there that 
I write to you to-day, dressed in a Persian robe with 
wide sleeves, while around me sports my harem ; afford- 
ing me, therefore, an excellent excuse for at once pro- 
ceeding to sketch the portraits of my aimées . 

In all beings the internal character is so closely allied 
to the external form, that it appears to be only an equation 
of the latter. Thus certain features of the face announce 
peculiarities of nature, inclinations, and instincts even 
to the vulgar; the physiologist, with his more special 
knowledge, discovers quite a series of concealed revelations 
in the innermost recesses of that pretty sphinx which 
constitutes God’s masterpiece, and which we call woman. 
In the same way grace is always the result of the har- 
mony of lines; from the slightest outline, from the 
position of a dimple, or the tension of a smile, from a 
glance, or from the most transient gesture, one can always 
trace the origin of a feeling, and lay hare the mind. 
Thus, at this moment, I behold Hadidjé leave the 
water, and saunter quietly in the direction of Nazli 
and Zouhra, who are reclining on cushions and smoking 
cigarettes. By the air of indifference that she affects I 
could wager that she contemplates playing them some 
trick ! 

And indeed, when close to the smokers, she suddenly 
shook her hair. The two others jumped up under the 


68 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


spray of sparkling water, and ran after her, beating her 
with their fans and fly-flaps. 

Kondjé-Gul, the heedless beauty, who is rocking 
herself in her hammock beside me, scarcely raises her 
lazy head to follow them with a glance, at the sound of 
their cries and laughter. Since her name is at the end 
of my pen, I will begin my series of portraits with her. 

Kondjé-Gul is a Circassian by race. Her name in 
Turkish signifies a variety of rose which we are not 
acquainted with in France ; she was brought when quite 
a child to Constantinople by her mother, attached to 
the service of a cadine of the Sultan. She is now 
eighteen. Imagine the Caucasian type in the flower 
of its beauty, tall, with the figure of a young goddess, 
an expression of natural indolence which appears to 
indicate a consciousness of her sovereign beauty, and a 
fine head crowned with thick chestnut hair falling down 
to her waist. Her features are clean cut, and of a re- 
markably pure type. Large brown eyes with heavy 
eyelids, imparting a languishing expression ; lips some- 
what sensual, which from her habit of carrying her head 
erect, she seems always to be holding out for a kiss ; a 
mixture of Greek beauty with a strange sort of grace 
peculiar to this Tcherkessian race, which still remains 
a trifle savage. All these characteristics make up an 
ensemble both exotic and marvellous, which I could no 
more describe to you than I could explain the scent of 
the lily. Of a loving and tender nature, she exhibits 
the disposition of a child in whom ardent impulses are 
united with a profound gentleness of sentiment. She 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


69 


is the jealous one of my household — hut, hush ! the 
others know nothing of this. . . . Certainly she is the 
most remarkable and the most perfect of my little 
animals. 

Hadidjé is a Jewess of Samos, a Jewess of a type 
singularly rare among the descendants of Israel. She 
is a blonde of a mingled tint, soft and golden, of which 
the Veronese blonde will give you no idea. Her beauty is 
undoubtedly one of those effects of selection and crossing 
admitted as the foundation of Darwin’s system. . . . 
England has left her trace there ! Picture to yourself 
one of those “ Keepsake ” girls escaped from Byron’s 
“ Bride of Abydos ” or his “ Giaour; ” take some such 
charming creature, fair and fresh-complexioned, white 
and pink, and plunge her in the atmosphere of the 
harem, which will orientalise her charms and give her 
that — whatever it is — which characterises the undulat- 
ing fascinations of the sultanas. 

My dear friend, an incredible event has happened — 
an event astounding, unheard of, supernatural ! Don’t 
try to guess ; you will never succeed, never ! It sur- 
passes the most prodigious and miraculous occurrence 
ever imagined by human brain. 

Yesterday I had broken off my letter, distracted by 
Hadidjé, at the very moment when I was tracing her 
portrait for you. The day passed away before I again 
found leisure to finish it. This morning I was break- 
fasting at the château all alone in my study, where I 
generally have my meals, in order not to interrupt my 


70 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


work. While I was ruminating over the last number 
of a scientific magazine, my ear was struck by the noise 
of a carriage rolling over the gravel walk. As I very 
seldom receive visits, and my friend George, the spahi, 
always comes on foot, I thought it must be my notary 
coming to stir me up about some business matters ; he 
had been reproaching me the last fortnight for neglect- 
ing them. The carriage stopped in front of the door- 
steps. I heard the servants running across the 
antichamber. Suddenly I heard a cry, followed by con- 
fused voices, which sounded as though trembling with 
fright, and finally fresh sounds of steps, rushing head- 
long, as in a sudden rout. Wondering what this might 
mean, I listened, when all of a sudden a stentorian voice 
shouted out these words : — 

“ But what’s the matter with those blockheads ? 
How much longer are they going to leave me here with 
my bag?” 

Louis, imagine my amazement and stupefaction ! 
I thought I recognised the voice of my dead uncle, 
which in the brazen notes of a trumpet grew louder and 
louder, adding in a pompous, commanding tone — 

“ Francois ! if I catch you, you rascal, you’ll soon know 
what for ! ” 

I jump up, run to the window, and see quite dis- 
tinctly my uncle, Barbassou Pasha himself. 

“ Hullo ! you here, my boy ? ” says he. 

As for me, I leap over the belcony, and fall into his 
arms ; he lifts me up from the ground, as if I were a 
child, and we embrace each other. You may guess my 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


71 


emotion, my surprise, my transports of joy ! The ser- 
vants watched us from a distance, frightened and not 
yet daring to approach near. 

“ Ah, well ! ” repeated my uncle ; “ what on earth’s 
the matter with them ? Have I grown any horns ?” 

“ I will explain everything,” I said ; “ come in, while 
they take up your luggage.” 

“ All right !” he replied ; “and get some breakfast 
for me, quick ! I’m as hungry as a wolf.” 

All this was said with the dignity of a man who never 
allows himself to be surprised at anything, and in that 
meridional accent, the ring of which is sufficient to 
betray the origin of the man. My uncle speaks seven 
languages ; at Paris, as you know, he pronounces with 
the pure accent of a Parisian, but directly he sets foot 
in Provence', that’s all over ; he resumes his brogue, 
or as they call it down here, the assent . 

He came in, stepping briskly, and holding his head 
erect ; I followed him. Once in my study, and seeing 
the table laid, he sat down as naturally as if he had 
just returned from a walk in the park, poured out two 
large glasses of wine, which he swallowed one after the 
other with a gulp of deep satisfaction ; and then made a 
cut at a pie, which he attacked in a serious manner, 
rendering it quite impossible to mistake him for a 
spectre. I let him alone, still contemplating him with 
amazement. When I considered him ready to answer 
my questions, I said — 

“ Well, uncle, where have you come from ? ” 

“Té ! I come from Japan, you know very well,” he 


72 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


answered, just as if he were referring to the chief town 
of the department ; “ only I have dawdled a bit on the 
way, which prevented me from writing to you.” 

“ And during the last five months what has happened 
to you ? ” 

“ Pooh ! I made an excursion into Abyssinia, in 
order to see the Negus, who owed me two hundred 
thousand francs. He has not paid me, the scamp ! 
But how odd you do look ! And that great arleri , 
Francois ! how he stares at me with his full round eyes, 
as if I were going to swallow him up. Is there any- 
thing so very fierce about me ? Hullo, you have 
altered my livery !” he went on ; “ they all look like 
ecclesiastics ; have you taken orders, then ? ” 

“ Why, uncle, these five months past we have been 
in mourning for you.” 

“ In mourning for me ? You must be joking ! ” 

“ These five months past we have believed you to be 
dead, and have received all the documents proving your 
death ! ” 

“ Perhaps these documents informed you that I was 
buried, then ?” he added, without changing countenance. 

“ Why, yes, certainly !” I said. “ We have also the 
certificate of your interment ! ” 

At this my uncle Barbassou could restrain himself no 
longer, and was seized with one of those fits of silent 
laughter which are peculiar to him. 

“ In this case — you would be my heir ?” he said, in 
the middle of his transport of gaiety, which hardly 
permitted him to speak. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


78 


“I am already, my dear uncle,” I replied, “ and am 
in possession of all your property ! ” 

This reply put the finishing touch to his hilarity, and 
he started off again into such a fit of laughter that I 
was caught by it, and so was François. 

But suddenly my uncle stopped, as if some reflection 
had crossed his mind, and seizing my hand with a 
sudden impulse he said : 

“ Ah ! but now I think of it, my poor boy, you must 
have experienced a severe blow of grief ! ” 

This was said with such frank simplicity, and pro- 
ceeded so evidently from a heart guiltless of any dis- 
simulation, that I swear to you I was stirred to the 
bottom of my soul ; my eyes filled with tears, and I 
threw myself on to his neck to thank him. 

“ Well, well ! ” he said, patting me on the shoulder 
to calm me, while he held me in his arm ; “ never mind, 
old fellow, now that I’m back again ! ” 

When breakfast was finished and the table cleared, 
we remained together alone. 

“ Come, uncle, as soon as you have explained to me 
what has happened to lead to this story of your death, 
the next thing will be to take early steps for your 
resuscitation.” 

“ Take steps ! ” he exclaimed, “ and for why ? ” 

“ Why, to re-establish your civil status and your rights 
of citizenship as a live person.” 

“ Oh, they’ll find out soon enough, when they see me, 
that I don’t belong to the other world ! ” said he, quite 
calmly. 


74 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Now that you are regarded as defunct, you will not 
be able to do anything, to sign, to contract ” 

“ So, so ! Never mind all that. Barbassou-Gratien- 
Claude- Anatole doesn’t trouble himself about such 
trifles.” 

“ But your estates ?” I said ; “ your property which 
I have inherited ? ” 

“ Have you paid the registration fees ?” he asked 
me, in a serious tone. 

“ Certainly I have, uncle.” 

“ Well ! Do you want to put me to double expense 
for the benefit of the government, which will make you 
pay it all over again at my real death ? ” 

“ What is it you mean to do, then ? ” said I. 

“ You shall keep them ! Now’s your turn,” he added, 
in a chaffing tone ; “ all these forty years I have had the 
worry of them ; it’s your turn now, young man ! You 
shall manage them, and make them your business ; it 
will be for you now to pay my expenses and all that ! ” 

“I hope you don’t dream of such a thing, my dear 
uncle!” I exclaimed. “Why even, supposing that I 
continue to manage your property ” 

“ Excuse me,” he said, “ your property ! It is yours, 
the fees having been duly paid.” 

“Well, our property, if you like,” I replied, with a 
laugh ; “all the same, I repeat you cannot remain 
smitten with civil death.” 

“ Bah ! Bah ! Political notions ! But first explain 
to me how I come to be dead — that puzzles me.” 

I then related to him what I have told you of this 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


75 


strange story ; the notary’s letter informing me of the 
cruel news brought by my uncle’s lieutenant Rabassu, 
confirmed by the most authentic documents, and accom- 
panied by a portfolio containing all his papers and letters, 
securities in his name, and agreements signed by him ; 
proving, in short, an identity which it was impossible to 
dispute. 

“ My papers !” he exclaimed. “ They were not lost 
then ? ” 

“ I have them all,” I replied. 

“ I begin to understand ! It’s all the fault of that 
stupid Lefébure.” 

“ Who is this Lefébure ?” I asked. 

“I am going to tell you,” replied my uncle ; “ the 
whole thing explains itself and becomes clear. — But 
I wonder, did not Rabassu with the news of my death 
bring some camels ? ” 

“ Not a single camel,” uncle. 

“ That’s odd ! However, sit down, and I will tell 
you all about it.” 

I sat down, and my uncle gave me the following 
narrative. I write it out for you faithfully, my dear 
Louis ; but what I cannot render for you, is the inimit- 
able tone of tranquillity in which he related it, just as 
if he were describing a fête at a neighbouring village. 

In returning from Japan,” he said, “ I must tell you 
that I put in at Java. Of course I landed there. On 
the pier-head, I recognised Lefébure, a sea-captain and 
an old friend of mine ; he had given up navigation in 
order to marry a mulattress there, who keeps a tobacco- 


76 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


shop. I said to him * Hullo, how are you ? * He 
embraces me and answers that he is very dull. * Dull ? ’ 
I reply, 4 well, come along with me to Toulon for a few 
days; my ship is in the harbour here, I will give you a 
berth in her, and send you home next month by 44 The 
Belle-Yirginie ! ” My proposal delights him, but his 
answer is that it is impossible. 4 Impossible? Why ? * 
4 Because I have a wife who would not hear of it ! * 
4 We must see about that,’ I say to him. Well, we go 
to their shop ; the wife makes a scene, cries and screams, 
calling him all sorts of names, and they fight over it. 
At last, while they are taking a moment’s rest, I add 
that I shall weigh anchor at six o’clock in the evening. 

4 1 will wait for you until five minutes past six,’ I say ; 
and then I go off to my business. At six o’clock I 
weighed anchor, and began to tack about a hit. At 6*10 
I was off, when I saw a barque approaching. I gave 
the order 4 Stop her.’ It was Lefébure, who was 
making signs to us to stop. He comes up, gets on 
board, and off we go. 

44 Fifteen days after that we put in at Ceylon for a 
few hours. On the twenty- sixth day, as we arrived in 
sight of Aden, we observed a good deal of movement 
in the harbour. There was an English man-of-war 
displaying an admirals flag, which they were saluting. 
On shore I learnt that she was carrying a Commission 
sent out to make some diplomatic representations to the 
Negus of Abyssinia. And who should I meet but 
Captain Picklock, one of my old friends whose acquaint- 
ance I made at Calcutta, where he was in one of the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


77 


native regiments. He informed me that he was in 
command of the escort accompanying the envoys. I 
said to Lefébure ‘ By the by, the Negus owes me some 
money — shall we go and make a trip there ? ’ Lefébure 
replied, ‘ By all means let us ! ’ I bought four horses 
and half-a-dozen camels, which I sent on board with 
my provisions ; and we started with the envoys. We 
had some amusement on the way. I knew the country 
very well myself, but when we were half-way, at Adoua, 
where we halted for half a day, Lefébure picks up with 
an Arab woman. He wants to stay with her until the 
next day, and says to me, ‘ Go on with the captain ; I 
will join you again to-morrow with the convoy of 
baggage.’ I started off accordingly. Next day, no 
Lefébure. That annoyed me rather, because he had 
kept the camels. However, I continued my journey, 
thinking that I should find him again on my return. 
Finally I arrived at the Negus’s capital, just in time to 
hear that they were on the point of dethroning him. 
My intention was to apply to the English commissioners 
to help me in getting my little business settled. I 
found, however, that my portfolio and papers were with 
Lefébure, who had the baggage ; fortunately, I still had 
the gold which I carry in my belt. Then I naturally 
availed myself of this opportunity to go off and wander 
about the interior, as far as Nubia, where I had some 
acquaintances. I commissioned Captain Picklock to 
tell Lefébure to come on and join me at Sennaar, with 
the camels. So off I go, and arrive in ten days’ time 
at Sennaar, where I find the King of Nubia, who was 


78 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


not very happy about the political situation ; he treats 
me very hospitably, and I buy ivory and ostrich feathers 
of him. 

“ Three weeks go by, but no Lefébure ! So I natu- 
rally avail myself of the delay, for pushing on a bit 
into Darfour ; when, lo and behold ! just like my 
luck, on the ninth day, as I am entering the outskirts 
of El-Obeid in Kordofan, I am met by a predatory 
tribe of Changallas ! They surround me ; I try to 
defend myself, and a great burly rascal jumps at my 
throat, and trips me up. I feel that I am being 
strangled by him ; I deal him a blow in the stomach 
with my fist, and he tumbles backwards ; only, as his 
hand still grips my throat, he drags me down with him ; 
the others attack me at the same time, and I am 
captured ! My blow appears to have been the death of 
the negro — which did not mend matters for me. They 
thrust me, bound fast like a bundle of wood, into a sort 
of shed, after robbing me of all my gold. 

“ I was carefully guarded. At the end of eight days 
I said to myself, * Barbassou, your ship lies in the 
harbour of Aden ; you have business to attend to, and 
you won’t get out of your present scrape without con- 
ciliatory negotiations. You must resign yourself to a 
sacrifice ! ’ I send for the chief, and offer him as my 
ransom a cask containing fifty bottles of rum, ten 
muzzle-loading guns, and two complete uniforms of an 
English general. This offer tempts him ; but as I ask 
him first of all to have me safe conducted to the King 
of Nubia, he answers that if once I got there I should 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


79 


send him about his business. They confined me in a 
pit, where I had only rice and bananas to eat, to 
which I am not at all partial. As to the women, they 
are monkeys. However, after four months of negotia- 
tions we came to an agreement that I should he conveyed 
back to Sennaar, where I engaged upon my word of 
honour to give guarantees. 

I set off, still hound fast, with ten men to guard 
me. After a fortnight we arrive in the town. I enquire 
for Lefébure. — No Lefébure. I then go to the king’s 
palace — but he had just started off on a week’s hunting 
expedition. However, I find the sheik who was in 
command of the town, and relate my difficulty to him. 
He informs me that the treasury is closed. I tell my 
guards that they can return, and that I will have my 
ransom sent from Aden, but that does not content 
them ; one of them seizes hold of me by the arm, but 
I gave him a good hiding. Finally the sheik furnishes 
me with an escort, and I return to Gondar. The 
English had gone back, and I started on my voyage 
across to Aden. When I reached Adoua, where I had 
left my friend Lefébure, I asked for him. Again no 
Lefébure ! However, I had the luck to find his 
Arabian sweetheart, whom I questioned about him. 
Her reply is, that the very day I left him, the stupid 
fellow went and caught a sun- stroke, of which he died 
the same day. I inquire after my. baggage and my 
camels. — No baggage, no camels ! They had all been 
forwarded to the Governor of Aden. 

“ When I arrived at Aden, the Governor told me that 


80 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


everything which had been received had been sent on 
hoard my ship, including the papers found on my 
friend, and that a certificate of death had been duly 
drawn up, which my lieutenant was instructed to convey 
to the family. I asked no more questions, and wrote at 
once a little note of condolence to Lefébure’s wife. I 
sent the agreed ransom to my Changallas, and at the 
same time a letter of complaint to the King of Nubia. 
Altogether, it was four months since my ship had left 
Aden. The following day I took the mail boat to Suez 
— arrived last night at Marseilles — and here lam!” 

“ Yes, indeed,” I said to my uncle, when he had 
concluded ; “ that explains it all. They drew up the 
certificate of decease according to the papers found on 
your friend Lefébure, and as they were yours ” 

“Why, they mistook him for me; and that ass 
Babassu went off with the ship to bring the notary the 
news of my death.” 

“ That’s clear,” I added. 

“ But what puzzles me most,” replied he, “ is to know 
what has become of my camels ! ” 

As you may well imagine, my dear Louis, this unex- 
pected resurrection of my uncle plunged me into a state 
of excitement, which took entire possession of me. I 
could not see enough of him, or hear enough of him ; 
and all that day I so completely forgot everything which 
did not concern him, that I did not eyen think of moving 
outside the château. I followed him from room to room, 
and kept looking at him, for I felt the need of convincing 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


81 


myself that he was really alive. As to him, quickly 
recovering from the very transitory astonishment into 
which the news of his supposed death had thrown him, 
he had resumed that splendid composure, which you 
remember in him. He superintended all his little 
arrangements, and unpacked all his boxes, full of all sorts 
of articles from Nubia, whistling all the while fragments 
of bamboulas which were still ringing in his ears. 

After dinner in the evening, he said to me, stretching 
out his long legs over the divan, with the air of a man 
who loves his ease : 

“ By Jove, it’s very snug here ! If you like, we will 
stay down here several weeks.” 

“As many weeks as you like, uncle,” I answered — 
“ months even ! ” 

“ Well done ! — But,” he continued, “ won’t you he 
rather dull ? — for, unless you have some little distrac- 
tion ” 

“Ah!” I exclaimed, remembering all at once my 
harem ; “I forgot to tell you about this little affair ! ” 

“ What affair ?” he said. “ Have you found your 
distraction already, then?” 

“ I should just think I have, uncle ! ” 

“ Is she pretty ? ” 

“ Why, I have four ! ” 

At this information my uncle did not raise his eye- 
brows any more than if I had told him that I was 
occupying my leisure by practising the rustic flute ; he 
only stretched out his arm, took my hand and shook it 
smartly in the English fashion, saying, 


82 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ My compliments, my dear fellow ! — I beg your 
pardon for my indiscretion.” 

“ But, my dear uncle, I have quite a long story to 
tell you ! ” I added, not without a certain embarrass- 
ment “ — and it is your death again that has been the 
cause of it ! ” 

“ How was that ? Tell me all about it.” 

“ You know, your Turkish pavilion — Kasre-el-Nouz- 
ha?” 

“ I know, well?” 

“ Well, four months ago, Mohammed- Azis arrived 
there.” 

“ Hullo !” he said, “ Mohammed ? ” 

“Yes, and you had entrusted him with a — a com- 
mission,” I continued. 

“ True,” he exclaimed, “ I had forgotten that ! ” 

“ Well, then, uncle ” 

“ He had accomplished his commission, I suppose,” 
continued he. 

“Yes,” I replied. “And as you were dead, and 
Mohammed’s commission formed part of my inherit- 
ance from you, I thought that it was my duty — ” 

“ Bigre ! ” said my uncle, “ you know how to act the 
heir very well, you do ! ” 

“ Why indeed — ” I continued, “ remember that I 
could not suppose ” 

“ In short you’ve done it,” said he, “ and it’s all 
over, so don’t let us say anything more about it ! And 
once more, forgive me. — Now that I know all about it, 
nothing more need be said. Turks never discuss harem 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


88 


matters. Only,” he added, “ in order to avoid the neces- 
sity of returning to the subject, let me now recom- 
mend you to keep Mohammed ; you understand ? He 
knows the run of the ropes. And in order to make 
everything safe, as it would not do for me to be seen 
about there any more, tell him to come and see me.” 

“ Do you wish me to send for him at once ? ” 

“ No, no, to-morrow will do. "VVe have plenty of 
time. — Come, give me a little music, will you ? Play 
me something from Yerdi — ” 

And he began to hum in his bass voice, slightly out 
of tune, snatches from the air : 

“ Parigi o cara, noi lasceremmo.” 

We passed a charming evening together, what with 
conversation, music, and cards. He won three francs 
of me at piquet, with a ridiculous display of triumph. 
About twelve o’clock I took him to his bedroom. 
When he was ready to get into bed, he exclaimed : 

“ Té! I have some securities here which I had 
forgotten ! ” And taking a penknife, he proceeded to 
cut the stitches of his coat lining, from which he drew 
out some papers. 

“ See !” he said, as he held them out to me, “ here 
are seven hundred thousand francs’ worth of bills on 
London and Paris. You shall get them cashed.” 

“ Very well, uncle,” I replied. “And what do you 
want me to do with the money ? ” 

“ Oh, upon my word, that’s your affair, my pichoun ! 
You may be sure, now that you have come into your 


84 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


inheritance, I am not going to be troubled with such 
matters ! ” 

“ Well, at least advise me about them.” 

“ But, my good fellow, that means that I am still to 
have all the bother about them — . After all,” he 
continued, “ keep the money if you like — it will do for 
my pocket money.” 

Thereupon he went to bed, I wished him good night, 
and was about to leave the room, when he called me 
back. 

“ Come here, André ! Write, if you please, to the 
notary and ask him to come here to-morrow.” 

“Ah!” I replied, “you’re coming round to that at 
last!” 

“I am coming round to nothing whatever !” he 
exclaimed, in a most decided tone. “ Only I want to 
know what has become of my camels ! As you may 
guess, I intended to present them to the Zoological 
Society. I must have them found ! Good night ! ” 

I should certainly annoy you, my dear Louis, if I 
were to endeavour to impress upon you the full signifi- 
cance of the amazing events through which I have 
passed during these four months. I don’t know of a 
single mortal who has experienced more original adven- 
tures. The dreadful letter from the notary, my in- 
stallation at Férouzat, my uncle’s will, the harem 
tumbling down upon me from Turkey, the entering into 
complete possession of my fortune, and the whole 
crowned by the return of the deceased. Certainly you 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


85 


will agree with me that these* are incidents which one 
does not meet with in everyday life. Nevertheless, if 
you want to know my ideas about them, I confess that 
they seem to me at the present moment to he nothing 
but the Necessary and the Contingent of philosophers, 
in their simplest application. I would go so far as to 
assert that, to a nephew of my uncle, things could not 
fail so to happen, for it would show a want of training 
in the most elementary principles of logic, to exhibit 
surprise at such little adventures, when once Barbassou- 
Pasha has been introduced on the scene as Prime Cause. 
The substratum of my uncle so powerfully influences 
my destiny, that to my mind it would seem quite para- 
doxical to expect the same things ever to happen to me 
as to any other man. Cease being astonished, there- 
fore, at any strange peculiarities in my life, even if they 
be eccentric enough to shock a rigidly constituted mind. 
Like those erratic planets which deviate occasionally 
from their course, I move around the remarkable star 
called Barbassou-Pasha, and he draws me into his own 
eccentric orbit. In spite of a semblance of romantic 
complications among the really simple facts which I 
have related to you, I defy you to discover in 
them the slightest grain of inconsistency. They 
can be perfectly well accounted for by the most 
natural causes and the most ordinary calculations of 
common sense. Cease your astonishment, therefore, 
unless you wish to fall into the lowest rank in my 
estimation. 

Having postulated the fact that I am the nephew of 


86 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


my uncle, I will now return to the summarising of 
my situation. Well, my late uncle had come to life 
again, but he wanted to keep all the advantages of his 
status as a dead man, by obliging me to remain in 
possession of his property. I had just said “good 
night ” to him, while he was dreaming about his camels. 
Nothing could be less complicated than that. If all 
that is not in strict conformity with the character of 
Barbassou (Claude Anatole), I know nothing about him. 
Nevertheless, it was only natural that the day celebrated 
by his return should give birth to some other incidents 
of importance. 

I had just left my uncle, and was walking towards the 
library to write at once to the notary, when Francis 
informed me that a woman from the Kasre had been 
waiting an hour to see me. One of the Greek servants 
came sometimes to the château, either with messages 
or to await my orders. I concluded at once that, not 
having seen me either during the day or in the evening, 
my little animals had grown anxious and were sending 
to inquire after me. I went to my room, where Francis 
said the woman was. As I entered I saw her standing 
up, motionless, near the window, wrapped in her great 
black feridjié ; but I had hardly shut the door behind 
me when, all at once, I heard a cry and sobs. The 
feridjié fell down, and I recognised Kondjé-Gul, who 
threw herself on to my neck and seized me in her arms 
with signs of the deepest despair. 

“ Good gracious ! ” I said, “ is that you? You come 
here ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


87 


Breathless and suffocated with tears, she could not 
answer me. I guessed, rather than heard, these words : 
“ I have run away ! I have come to die with you ! ” 

“ But you are mad, dear, quite mad !” I exclaimed. 
“ Why should you die ? What has happened then ? ” 

“ Oh, we know all ! ” she continued. “ Barbassou- 
Pasha has returned. He is a terrible man. He is 
going to kill you ; us also ; Mohammed also ! ” 

And raving with fear she clung to me with all her 
strength, just as if she were already threatened with death. 

“But, my dear child,” I said, “ this is all madness — 
who in the world has told you such nonsense ? ” 

“ Mohammed. He heard of the Pasha’s return — he 
has hidden himself.” 

“But my uncle is a very kind man — he adores me, 
and does not even intend to see you. Nothing will be 
changed for us by his return.” 

Seeing me so calm, she was gradually reassured. 
Still she was too much possessed by her Turkish 
notions to believe all at once in such a departure from 
correct oriental usages. 

“ Well then,” she said as she dried her tears, “ he 
will only kill Mohammed ? ” 

“Not even Mohammed !” I exclaimed, with a smile. 
“ Mohammed is a poor coward, and I will give him a 
bit of my mind to-morrow, so that he shan’t worry you 
with any more nonsense of this kind.” 

“ You don’t mean it ? ” she replied. “ Then he will 
only get a beating ? ” 

I was about to protest, when I perceived by her first 


88 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


words that she suspected I wanted to play upon her 
credulity. There was thus a danger of reviving her 
worst fears, for she would not believe any more of my 
assurances. I contented myself therefore with promis- 
ing to intercede with Barbassou-Pasha. Once convinced 
that Mohammed’s punishment would extend no further 
than his hind-quarters, she troubled herself no more 
about it, but with the characteristic volatility of these 
little wild creatures, began to chatter and examine all 
the things in my room, touching and feeling everything 
with an insatiable curiosity. 

“ Come now, you must go home,” I said to her, not 
wishing this little excursion of hers to be discovered. 

“Oh, no ! Oh, no ! ” she cried, with childlike delight. 
“It’s your home — do let me look at it ! ” 

“ Oh, but you must go and comfort Zouhra, Nazli, 
and Hadidjé ! ” 

“ They are asleep,” she said. “ 1 want to stay a 
little time here alone with you ! Besides,” she added, 
with a little frightened look still lingering on her face, 
“ suppose Barbassou-Pasha has been deceiving you, 
suppose he is coming to kill you to-night ? ” 

“ But once more I tell you, dear, you are mad ! ” 
“Well then, why send me back so soon ? ” 

“ Because it is not proper for you to leave the 
harem,” I answered. “ Come along, off you go ! ” 

“ Oh, just a little longer ! — I beg you, dear ! ” 
she said, with a kiss. 

How could I resist her, my dear Louis ? Tell me ? 

I sat down, watching her moving about and rummag- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


89 


ing everywhere. I must tell you that under her feridjié 
(which she had let down on my entrance into the room), 
she was dressed in a sort of loose gown of pale blue 
cashmere, embroidered with lively designs in silk and 
gold. Her snow-white arms emerged from wide, hang- 
ing sleeves. This costume produced a charming pic- 
turesque effect in the midst of my room, which, although 
comfortable, was very prosaic in its style — although to 
her it seemed wonderful. She touched everything, for 
she could not be satisfied with seeing only, and her 
questions never ceased. ... At last, after half-an-hour, 
considering her curiosity to be satisfied, as she was 
beginning to ransack the books lying on my table, I 
said once more, 

“ Come, Kondjé-Gul, you must go.” 

With these words, I picked up her feridjié, and took 
her back to the harem. A pale light was shining 
through the windows of the drawing-room. Hadidjé, 
Nazli, and Zouhra were still there. To describe the 
terror which came over their faces directly I appeared, 
would be impossible. Hearing steps in the night, they 
made sure their last moments had arrived. At the 
sound of the door opening, they cried out loud — the 
three poor miserable things took refuge in a corner. 

When they saw me enter with Kondjé-Gul, they were 
thrown into a great consternation. With a few words I 
reassured them at once. 

As to Mohammed, it was impossible to find him. I 
will confess, moreover, that I felt very little interest in 
searching for him — I was far from ill-pleased with the 


90 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


thought that he was paying for the trouble which his 
stupidity had caused my poor darlings, by a night of 
fear and trembling. 

My lamb haying returned to the fold, I eventually 
retraced my steps to the chateau. 

Is it necessary to tell you that the surprising events 
of the day had caused me emotions which I was scarcely 
able to understand ? 

My uncle’s resurrection — 

Lefébure — 

The Changallas — 

The camels — 

They all kept my brain at work the whole night long. 




CHAPTER IV. 


I apologise, my dear Louis, for having left you a 
month without a letter from me, as you reproach me 
somewhat severely. You are not afraid, I should hope, 
that my friendship for you has cooled. The real cause 
of my silence is that I have had nothing to tell you. 
The even tenor of my existence permits only of daily 
repetitions of the same very simple events. My affec- 
tions being divided between my harem and my uncle 
Barbassou, I revel in the tranquillity of the fields and 
woods, which afford to my mind that quiet freedom 
which is always more or less disturbed by the excited 
atmosphere of city life. 

Do not imagine, however, that we have been living 
like monastics, disdaining all worldly distractions : the 


92 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


governor is not the man to lead the existence of a Car- 
thusian monk. He is as much on horseback as on foot. 
In the daytime we make hunting excursions ; he visits 
his “ god-children ” and my estates : you may rely upon 
it, I have got an active steward in him! In the evening 
we receive our friends at the château — tüe vicar, the 
Morands, father and son, and, twice a week, the notary. 
We play whist at penny points, and very lively games 
of piquet — only the latter not so often, as my uncle 
cheats at it. About eleven o’clock the carriages are got 
ready to take these people home. I then accompany 
my uncle to his room, and we talk over business matters, 
and about my fiancee ; for, of course, my marriage with 
his “ god-daughter ” is an understood thing, and we 
have not even a notion of discussing the question. 
Finally, when he gets sleepy, he goes to bed, and I go 
off to El-Nouzha. 

Besides these occupations we have another very 
serious one, namely, rummaging among the mass of 
curios which lie heaped up together in the lumber-room 
of the château. 

“ Ah, André !” my uncle said to me one day, with 
the reproachful accent of a faithful steward, “you have 
a lot of fine things up there which you are very foolish 
to leave in that lumber-hole. If I were you, I would 
have them all out ! ” 

“ Let us get them all out then at once, uncle,” I 
answered. 

Thereupon we set to work sorting them out, and you 
have no idea of the things we found — valuable paintings, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


93 


works of art, rare old furniture, and arms of all coun- 
tries. You will see what a museum they constitute, if 
you make an excursion down here, as you have promised. 
Really, for an artist of your genius, this alone would be 
worth the journey. 

We also pay visits at the two neighbouring châteaux 
of the Montaubecs and the Camboulious ; but confine 
ourselves strictly to the customary conventionalities 
between neighbours, the female element which we 
encounter at these places belonging, as my uncle puts 
it, to the very lowest zoological order of beings. 

Once a week we dine at Doctor Morand’s. He is a 
man of great ability, who has only missed making his 
mark through want of a wider field. He is the one 
mortal capable of exercising an influence over Captain 
Barbassou, if the character of the latter did not place 
him out of reach of all external control. In this home 
family life reigns in its happiest and most charming 
simplicity, represented by a goodly quiver-full of chil- 
dren. I have already told you about young Morand, the 
spahi, and his cousin Geneviève. 

Geneviève, with her nineteen summers, is the eldest, 
by several years, of a prolific brood, the offspring of her 
mother’s second marriage. The doctor, who is a rich 
man for his district, took them all to live with him after 
his sister’s death. A more delightful and refreshing 
place cannot be found than this heaven-blest home, the 
very atmosphere of which breathes the odour of peaceful 
happiness and honest purity. You should see Geneviève, 
la grande , surrounded by her four petits , her brothers 


94 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


and sisters, with their chubby faces, all neat and clean, 
obedient and cheeky at the same time, and kept in order 
by her with a youthful discipline, flavoured now and 
then with a spice of playfulness. Is she really pretty ? 
I confess I cannot decide. The question of beauty in 
her case is so completely put out of mind by a certain 
charm of manner, that one forgets to analyse it. She 
has certainly fine eyes, for they hold you spell-bound by 
the soul shining through them. George Morand, her 
fiancé , adores her, and, headstrong Africain though he 
is, even he feels an influence within her which subju- 
gates his fiery spirit. They could not be a better match 
for each other, and will live happily together. She 
will chasten the exuberant ardour of the Provencal 
warrior. 

My uncle professes to detest “ the brats ; ” it is need- 
less, perhaps, to add that, directly he arrives, the whole 
of them rush to him, climb on his knees, and stay there 
for the rest of his visit. He is their horse ; he makes 
boats for them, and all the rest of it. The other day 
you might have seen him grumbling as he sewed a 
button on Toto’s drawers (which he had torn off by 
turning him head over heels), fearing lest Geneviève 
should scold him. 

I am very cordially welcomed by the whole house, 
and you may imagine what interminable discussions the 
doctor and I carry on. Having been formerly a pro- 
fessor in the School of Medicine at Montpellier, he was 
led by his researches in physiology to a very pronounced 
materialism. Now that he has read my spiritualistic 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


95 


articles, he tries hard to break down my arguments. 
On the third side, my uncle, as a Mahometan, wants to 
convert him to deism ; you may judge from this how 
much harmony there is between us ; you might take 
us for an Academy ! 

At El-Nouzha the same life goes on still ; but I must 
take this opportunity of correcting a dangerous mistake 
you appear to have fallen into, to judge from the tone 
of your letters. In everything that concerns my harem, 
you really speak as if you had in mind the fantastic 
and tantalising experiences of a second blessed Saint 
Anthony, exposed to the continual provocations of the 
most voluptuous beauties of the Court of Satan. Indeed, 
one might say (between you and me and the post), that 
your Holiness was less scared than inquisitive regard- 
ing these terrible scorchings. You old sinner ! The 
real truth is that everything becomes a habit after a 
while, and that, now the first effervescence of passion 
is over, this life grows much more simple than you 
imagine. You must not believe that we lead a riotous 
existence of continual lusts and orgies. Such notions, 
my dear fellow, are only the fruit of ignorance and of 
prejudice. 

Let me tell you that my harem is to me at the present 
time a most tranquil home, and that, but for the fact 
that I have four wives, everything about it has per- 
manently assumed the every-day aspect of a simple 
household. Our evenings are spent in conversation 
round the drawing-room table with music and dancing, 
conducted in a thoroughly amiable and cheerful spirit, 


96 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


and all set off by the accomplishments of my sultanas. 
I combine in my conjugal relations the dignified oriental 
bearing of a vizir with the tender sentimentalities of a 
Galaor, and in this I have really attained to an exquisite 
perfection. 

In fact, it would be the Country of Love in the Para- 
dise of Mahomet, but for a few clouds which, since my 
uncle’s return, have obscured the bright rays of my 
honeymoon. I have had some trouble with Hadidjé 
and Nazli, who seem determined to make a trip over to 
the château as Kondjé-Gul had done ; for, as might 
have been foreseen, as soon as her alarms had subsided, 
this silly creature, with the view no doubt of exciting 
their jealousy, and posing as the favourite, had taken 
care to relate to them all the wonders of this, to 
them, forbidden place. Of course I refused at once to 
permit such an irregularity, contrary as it was to all 
harem traditions. This refusal was the signal for a 
scene of tears and jealous passions, which I subdued, 
but which only gave way to the tender reproaches of 
slighted affections. Well, I try to jog along as well as 
I can, as all husbands have to do, but I have a vague 
presentiment of troubles still in the air. 

I have reopened my letter. 

I hope you won’t be astonished, my dear fellow, hut — 
I have another piece of news relating to Barbassou- 
Pasha. 

The day before yesterday, while my uncle and I were 
chatting together, as is our custom, before he went to 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


97 


bed, I observed that he yawned in an unusual manner. 
I had remarked this symptom before, and I drew my 
own conclusion from it, which was that overtaken once 
more by his adventurous instincts, he was beginning to 
find life tedious in the department of Le Gard, — he 
was longing for something or other, that was certain ! 
And I began ransacking my mind to find some new food 
upon which he might exercise his all-devouring energy, 
when he said to me, just before I left him — 

“ By the bye, André, I have written to your aunt that 
I am returned. She will probably arrive some time 
between now and the end of the week.” 

“ Ah ! ” I replied ; “ well, uncle, that’s capital ! I 
shall be delighted to have our family life back again.” 

“ Yes, the house will seem really furnished then,” he 
continued. “ Well, good night, my boy ! ” 

“ Good night, uncle.” 

Then I left him. 

Now, although this legitimate conjugal desire of my 
uncle’s was quite rational on his part, you may never- 
theless imagine that I went to bed rather puzzled. 
Which of my aunts should I see arrive ? My uncle 
had acquainted me with this design in such an artless 
manner that it never occurred to me to venture any 
question on the subject. I began therefore to form 
conjectures based upon his present frame of mind, as to 
which of his wives he had probably selected. 

I commenced by setting aside my aunt Cora, of the 
Isle of Bourbon. It was not very likely that the Pasha 
wanted to add to his past ontological researches upon the 


98 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


coloured races. Excluding also my aunt Christina de 
Postero, whose adventure with Jean Bonaffé had brought 
her into disgrace, there remained only my aunt Lia Ben 
Lévy, my aunt Gretchen Van Cloth, and my aunt 
Eudoxie de Cornalis, so that the question was now 
considerably narrowed. Still I must confess that it was 
not much use my setting all my powers of induction to 
work, taking as my premises the captain’s age, his 
present tastes, his plans, &c. All I succeeded in doing 
was to lose myself in a maze of affirmations and contra- 
dictions from which I could find no way out. The best 
thing to he done was to wait. So I waited. 

I had not long to wait for that matter. Two days 
after, while I was in my room, I saw a carriage drive 
up. Its only occupant was a lady, who seemed to me 
to he very handsome and very elegantly dressed. On 
the box, by the coachman’s side, sat a lady’s maid; 
behind were two men-servants of superior style in 
their travelling livery. The carriage stopped. At the 
sound of the wheels on the gravel, my uncle’s window 
opened. 

“Hoi! is that you?” he shouted. “How are you, 
my dear ! ” 

“ How are you, captain ! ” replied the lady. “ You 
see you have not been forgotten, you ungrateful 
wretch ! ” 

“ Thanks for that. Nor am I any more forgetful on 
my side.” 

“ That’s^ all right,” replied the lady ; “ hut why don’t 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


99 


you come down and give me a hand ? You’re very 
gallant ! ” 

“ Well, my dear, I’m coming as fast as I can ! ” said 
my uncle. 

I must confess I still remained somewhat puzzled at 
the sight of this fair traveller, whose appearance did 
not recall to me any of my aunts. Could Barbassou- 
Pasha have contracted another marriage since the date 
of his will ? Out of delicacy I kept out of the way, in 
order not to disturb their affectionate greetings, hut as 
my uncle passed my door on his way out, he said to 
me, 

“ André, aren’t you coming ?” I followed him. 
We arrived just as the lady was stepping briskly up the 
door-steps. 

“ Too late, captain ! ” she said, “ I could not stay 
there, penned up in that carriage.” 

This reproach did not prevent them from shaking 
hands very heartily. Then as I came up, my uncle 
said in his quick way, 

“ Kiss your aunt Eudoxia ! ” 

At this injunction I forthwith embraced my aunt, 
and I must admit that as I kissed her I could not 
repress a smile, recollecting this sacramental phrase of 
my uncle’s. 

“My goodness! is that André?” she exclaimed, 
“Oh! excuse me, sir,” she continued rapidly; “this 
familiar name slipped from my tongue, at remembrance 
of the bonny boy of old times.” 

“ Pray take it for granted, madam !” I answered. 


100 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Then don’t call me madam ! ” 

“ What does that matter, my aunt ; to obey you I 
shall he delighted to return to old times.” 

“ Very well then, my nephew,” she added ; “ see that 
my servants are looked after, and then let us come in ! ” 
All this was said in that free-and-easy tone which 
denotes aristocratic breeding, and with so much of the 
assurance of a woman accustomed to the best society, 
that I was for a moment almost taken aback by it. 
My early impressions of her had only left in my mind 
confused recollections of an amiable and fascinating 
young woman (so far as I could judge at that age), and 
now my aunt suddenly appeared in a character which I 
had not at all anticipated. Assuredly I should never 
have recognised her, although time had not at all 
impaired the beauty of her face. 

I will therefore draw her portrait afresh. Picture to 
yourself a woman of about thirty-five, although her real 
age is forty-two. Her figure exhibits a decided embon- 
point, hut this detracts not in the least from its grace- 
fulness, for she is a tall woman, and has also quite a 
patrician style about her. Her erect head, and the pro- 
found dignity of her expression — everything about her in 
fact — might be taken to denote a haughty nature, were 
it not for that extreme simplicity of manner which 
appears natural to her. Notwithstanding the firmness 
of her language, the tone in which it is uttered is as 
soft as velvet, and her light, musical accent suggests 
the frank and easy bearing of a Bussian lady of high 
rank. 





LOVE IN A HAREM 


101 


Such is the description of my aunt. 

My uncle had offered her his arm. As soon as we 
entered the drawing-room, she said, while taking off 
her hat : 

“ Ah, now you must at once explain to me this story 
of your death, which I received from a notary. For six 
months I have been fancying myself a widow ! ” 

“You can see that there’s nothing in it,” replied 
my uncle. 

“ That’s nice ! ” she exclaimed, laughing and holding 
her hand out to him a second time. “ Another of your 
eccentricities, I suppose ! ” 

“Not in the least, my dear; André here can tell 
you that I positively passed for a dead man, and 
that he went into mourning for me. He has even 
entered into the possession of my property as my 
heir.” 

“ It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” she 
answered; “but how was it that they put you in the 
grave by mistake ? I am curious to know.” 

“ I. was in Abyssinia.” 

“ Close by, is it? ” asked she,. interrupting him. 

“Yes,” continued my uncle. “A friend who was 
travelling with me, stayed behind at a place on our way, 
while I went forward, and he managed to die in such a 
stupid and ill-timed manner that, as my baggage was 
with him, it was from my papers that his certificate of 
death was made out. It was only on my return here, 
five months later, that I learnt that I had been taken 
for dead. You see what a simple story it is.” 


102 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Well, of course,” said my aunt, “ such things are 
quite a common occurrence ! That will teach you the 
result of not taking me with you on your travels. Was 
it also on account of this trip in Abyssinia that I have 
not seen you for two years? Oh stop, my dear 
nephew ! ” she added in an engaging tone, “ a family 

scene is an instructive event; it forms . Go on, 

captain, answer me.” 

“ Two years? ” replied my uncle. “Is it really two 
years ? ” 

“ Consult your log-books, if they have not been 
buried with your friend.” 

“Ah ! forgive me, dear Eudoxia, I have had during 
all this time most important business.” 

“ Yes,” continued my aunt, “ we all know what 
important business you have; I’ve heard some fine 
accounts of you. Do you know what Lord Clifden told 
me at St. Petersburg three months ago, while com- 
plimenting me upon my widow’s mourning, which, by 
the way, suited me extremely well ? He told me that 
during your lifetime you had been a bigamist.” 

“ What a likely story ! ” exclaimed my uncle, 
boldly. 

“ He assured me that he had seen you at Madras 
with a Spanish woman, you old traitor ! She was young 
and pretty, and passed openly by the name of Serlora 
Barbassou. It was surely not worth while making me 
elope with you, in order that you might treat me in this 
fashion ! ” 

“ Lord Clifden told you a story, my dear, and a very 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


103 


silly story too. I hope you did not believe a word 
of it?” 

“ Upon my word, you are such an eccentric character, 
you know ! ” she answered, with a laugh. 

“And what have you been doing yourself?” con- 
tinued my uncle, whose coolness had not deserted him 
for an instant ; “ where have you been ? ” 

“ Oh, if I were to reckon back to the day you left me, 
I should lose myself! ” replied my aunt. “A year ago, 
at this season, I was on my estate in the Crimea, where 
I vegetated for five months; then I spent the winter at 
St. Petersburg, and the spring at my chateau in Corfu, 
where I had the advantage of a comfortable place in 
which to mourn over you. Finally I had been two 
months at Vienna, when I received from my steward 
eight days ago the letter in which you did me the 
honour of informing me both of your resurrection and 
of your desire to see me. I quickly made my farewell 
calls, started off, and here I am ! Now,” she added, 
holding out a plaid to him, “ if you will kindly allow 
me to change these travelling clothes, you will make 
my happiness complete.” 

“Iam waiting to take you to your room,” replied my 
uncle. 

“ Nephew,” she said to me with a curtsey, “ prepare 
to minister to my caprices ; I have plenty of them 
when I love. — In return let me say to you, Take it for 
granted.” 

They left the room, and I felt quite astonished at the 
way they greeted each other. You can already under- 


104 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


stand the effect which my aunt must have produced on 
me, and I was no less surprised at the new traits which 
I discovered in my uncle’s character. A complete revo- 
lution had been effected. He became all at once very 
natty in his dress. His rough straggling beard was 
trimmed in the Henri IVth style, and his moustaches 
were twirled up at the ends. He left off swearing ; his 
language and his manners at once assumed the most 
correct tone, without constraint or embarrassment, and 
with a modulation so natural, that it seemed really to 
indicate a very long familiarity with fashionable practice. 
He had not made a single slip. His frank gallantry 
had nothing artificial about it; he was another man, 
and it was quite evident this was the only man that 
Eudoxie de Cornalis had ever known him to be. 

“ Well ! what do you think of your aunt ?” he asked 
me as he came in after five minutes’ absence. 

“ She is charming, uncle, and as gracious as 
possible ! ” 

“Did you expect to find her a monkey, then?” he 
exclaimed. 

“ Certainly not ! ” I replied. “But my aunt might 
have been beauty itself, and still have lacked the character 
and the intellectual qualities which I observe in her.” 

“ Oh, you can’t at all judge of her yet ! ” continued 
he, in a careless tone. “ You’ll see what I mean later 
on. She’s a real woman ! ” 

My aunt did not come down again until luncheon- 
time. Her appearance created quite an atmosphere of 
cheerful society in the dining-room, usually occupied 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


105 


only by my uncle and his nephew. My uncle was no 
doubt conscious of the same impression, for leaning 
towards me, he said to me in his inimitably cool manner, 
and in a low voice, 

“ Don’t you see how everything brightens up 
already? ” 

My aunt sat down, and as she took off her gloves, 
cast her eyes over the table, the sideboards, the servants 
in waiting, and the general arrangements of the dining- 
room. 

“ François,” she said to my uncle’s old man-servant, 
“ please send the gardener to me at four o’clock.” 

“ Yes, Madame la Comtesse.” 

‘‘And then send the steward, whom I do not see 
here.” 

“ Oh, I am the steward ! ” replied my uncle. 

“ That’s capital ! My compliments to you,” she 
continued; “I might have known it.” 

“ All the same, I fancy I perform my duties very well : 
is not this new furniture to your taste ? ” 

“ Not only so, but I find it very handsome, and I 
appreciate your antiquarian passion for rare and choice 
objects; only there is a want of life about it. What 
are those great vases, may I ask, whose enormous 
mouths stand empty to receive the dust ? ” 

“Those Mandarins!” said my uncle; “they come 
from the palace of the Emperor of China.” 

“ Oh, the men, the men ! ” exclaimed my aunt with 
a laugh : “if they were in Paradise they would forget 
to contemplate the Eternal ! Now, captain, my lord and 


106 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


spouse, pray tell me of what use to you are beds full of 
flowers, if you never rejoice your eyes with the sight of 
them ? ” 

The luncheon went off charmingly and merrily. As 
she chatted with us, my aunt signalled to Francis and 
gave him her instructions for those innumerable com- 
forts which a woman only can think of. My uncle, as 
if by enchantment, found everything ready to hand; 
before he had time to ask for anything to drink, he 
found his glass filled. We had not been accustomed to 
this kind of service. When we left the table my aunt 
said, 

“ Let us take a turn in the grounds.” 

She took my arm and we started off. I won’t trouble 
you with a description of this walk, in the course of 
which my aunt and I succeeded in improving our 
acquaintance. We soon grew to understand each other 
thoroughly. With supreme tact, and without apparent 
design on her part, she had led me on by discreet 
questions to give her, before a quarter of an hour had 
passed, a complete catalogue from A. to Z. of all my 
studies, my tastes, and my pursuits, including of course 
my youthful escapades, which made her smile more than 
once. 

In this outpouring I excepted, as you may be sure, the 
revelations of my career as a pasha. My uncle walked 
close to us, but left us to talk together. One might 
have thought that he was resuming his marital duties, 
interrupted only the evening before, without their 
course having been disturbed by any appreciable inci- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


107 


dent. All at once, we arrived at the foot-path which 
leads to the Turkish house. 

“Ah ! let us go into Kasre-El-Nouzha ! ” said my 
aunt. 

At this I glanced at my uncle with an air of distress ; 
he, without wincing in the least, said : 

“ The communicating door is walled up. Kasre- 
El-Nouzha is let.” 

“ Let ! ” she exclaimed ; “To whom ? ” 

“To an important personage, Mohammed- Azis, a 
friend of mine from Constantinople. You do not know 
him.” 

“You ungrateful wretch ! ” she continued with a 
laugh : “ that’s the way you observe my memory, 
is it?” 

She did not press the subject. You may guess what 
a relief that was to me. 

After we had strolled about the grounds for an hour, 
my aunt Eudoxia had made a complete conquest of me. 
But although everything about her excited my curiosity, 
I had put very few questions to her, not wishing from 
motives of delicacy to appear entirely ignorant of her 
history ; such ignorance, indeed, would have appeared 
strange in a nephew. She seemed quite disposed, how- 
ever, to answer all my questions without any fencing, 
and to treat me as an intimate friend. What I felt 
most surprised at was the attitude of my uncle, who 
had never said any more to me about her than about 
my aunt Cora of Les Grands Palmiers. There reigned 
betwixt them the affectionate manners of the happiest 


108 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


possible couple; they discussed the past, and I could 
see that their union had never been weakened or 
affected, notwithstanding my uncle’s Mahometan pro- 
ceedings, which she really appears never to have sus- 
pected. I discovered that she had accompanied him 
on board his ship, during several of his voyages, and 
that two years back he had stayed six months with 
her at Corfu. As for him, he talked in such a com- 
pletely innocent manner, betokening such a pure con- 
science, that I came to the conclusion he was probably 
on just as good a footing with all his other spouses, and 
that he would not have been the least bit more embar- 
rassed with my aunt Van Cloth, had she chanced to 
turn up. 

When we returned to the château, my aunt asked me 
to have some letters posted for her. I went to her 
room to take them from her ; she had found time to 
write half-a-dozen for all parts of the world. While 
she was sealing them, I had a look at the numerous 
articles with which she had filled and garnished her 
boudoir. There were on the table flowers in vases, 
books and albums ; on the mantelpiece, several portraits 
arranged on little gilt easels, among which was a 
splendid miniature of a young, handsome man, in 
Turkish costume embroidered with gold, and having 
on his head a fez ornamented with an egret of precious 
stones. 

“ Do you recognise this gentleman,” said my aunt, as 
I was stooping to look at it more closely. 

“ What !” I exclaimed ; “ Can that be my uncle ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


109 


“ The very man, dressed up as a great mamamouchi. 
It is a great curiosity, for you are aware of his Turkish 
notions on the subject. According to these, one ought 
not to have one’s image made.” 

“ Upon my word, that's quite true,” I said ; “ it is 
the first portrait I have seen of him.” 

“ I have every reason for believing that it is the only 
one,” she replied with a smile ; “ this was the most 
difficult victory I ever won over him.” 

We then began to discuss my uncle and his eccentri- 
cities, combined with his remarkable talents. She 
related to me some events and features in his life 
which would not be out of place in the legend of a 
hero of antiquity; amongst other matters she told 
me the story of their marriage, which runs briefly as 
follows : — 

My aunt, a daughter of one of the richest and 
noblest Greek families, lived with her father at a castle 
in Thessaly, a country which is partly Mahometan. 
During the feast of Bairam, the Turks commenced a 
massacre of Christians, which lasted three days. 
Several families, taking refuge in a church, had fortified 
themselves there, and with their servants were de- 
fending themselves desperately against their assailants. 
The assassins had already broken open the door of the 
sanctuary, and were about to cut all their throats, when 
suddenly a man came galloping up, followed by a few 
soldiers. He struck right and left with his scimitar 
in the thick of the crowd outside, and reached the 
doorway, causing his horse to rear up on the pavement. 


110 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


He slays some, and terrifies all. The Christians are 
saved ! 

This cavalier with his scimitar was my uncle, who 
was then in command of the province. The unhappy 
wretches who had escaped assassination pressed about 
him, and surrounded him ; the girls and the women 
threw themselves at his feet. My aunt was one of these 
unfortunates; she was then fifteen years old, and as 
beautiful as noonday. You may guess- how her imagin- 
ation was wrought on by the sight of this noble saviour. 
My uncle on his side was thunderstruck by the con- 
templation of so much beauty. Having to judge and 
punish the rebels, he established his head-quarters in 
the castle of the Cornalis. He sentenced twenty persons 
to death, and demanded Eudoxia’s hand in marriage. 
This, notwithstanding his gratitude, the father refused 
to grant to a Turkish general. 

The lovers were desperate, and separated, exchanging 
vows of eternal fidelity. Finally, after three months of 
correspondence and clandestine meetings, an elopement 
ensued, followed up quickly by marriage. It was as 
the sequence of this event that my uncle, induced by 
love, and moreover disgraced again for having exercised 
too much justice in favour of the Christians, finally 
quitted the service of the Sultan. His pardon by the 
Cornalis followed, and it was at this time that he 
obtained from the Pope the title of Count of the Holy 
Empire. 

All this will serve to explain to you how it is that 
my aunt, as an heiress of great wealth, possesses in 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


111 


her own right a very large independent fortune in the 
Crimea. 

We have now been living together for a fortnight, and 
during this time Férouzat has been completely trans- 
formed. My aunt Eudoxia is certainly very meublante , 
as my uncle calls it, and she has brought into the house 
quite an attractive element of brightness. She has 
naturally introduced into our circle a certain amount of 
etiquette, which does not, however, encroach upon the 
liberties of country life, or disturb that easy-going 
elegance which forms one of the charms of existence 
among well-bred people. The Countess of Monteclaro, 
as might well have been foreseen, having already been 
intimately acquainted with Doctor Morand, begins to 
take a most friendly interest in Mademoiselle Geneviève. 
As a consequence, Geneviève and the children spend 
almost all their time at the château. In the evenings 
we have gatherings to which all the young people of the 
neighbourhood are invited ; my aunt, who is an excellent 
musician, organises concerts, and we generally finish up 
with a dance. 

These worldly recreations afford me a clearer insight 
into the analytical details of my oriental life, which is 
now more than ever enveloped in the profoundest 
mystery. I have invented a story of important botanical 
studies upon the flora of Provence, in order to justify 
certain daily excursions which naturally terminate in 
El-Nouzha. It is well-known, moreover, that I some- 
times visit His Excellency Mohammed- Azis, but with 


112 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


the discretion which respect for a great misfortune natu- 
rally entails. The exiled minister is no longer even dis- 
cussed among us; everybody knows that “he shuts 
himself up like a bear in his den,” and there is an end 
of it. 

My aunt is the perfection of a woman. Nothing can 
be more delightful than our conversations. Her manner 
partakes both of the indulgence of a mother and of the 
unrestrained intimacy of a friend. She still remembers 
the child she used to dance upon her knees ; and, 
although I had for a long while forgotten her very 
existence, my present affection for her is none the less 
sincere because it is of such recent growth. I must 
confess that, after my confined existence at school and 
college, I am delighted with these pleasures of home 
life, to which I was until lately quite a stranger. 

My aunt, as you may guess, is acquainted with my 
uncle’s famous plan for the future, and knows Anna 
Campbell, the Pasha’s god-daughter. You should hear 
her chaff him anent this god-fathership, on the strength 
of which she claims that the captain has returned to 
the bosom of the Church without knowing it. She tells 
me that Anna is a charming girl. Thus petted and 
entertained, I live in other respects very much as I like, 
and sometimes pass the whole day in the library. I 
should add that my aunt, who is as sharp as a weasel, 
makes her own comments upon my frequent absences 
from the château. 

“André,” she asked me the other day with a smile, 
“ is your ‘ Botany ’ dark or fair ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


118 


“ Fair, my dear aunt,” I answered, laughing as she 
did. 

In the midst of all this the Pasha, still emulating one 
of the Olympian gods, proceeds on his course with that 
tranquillity of spirit which never forsakes him. Two 
days ago, who should come down upon us but Kabassu, 
his lieutenant, the Kabassu whom my uncle has always 
called his “ murderer.” He has brought home “ La 
Belle Virginie” from Zanzibar with a cargo of cinnamon; 
for, as you are aware, we (or rather I) still trade in 
spices. Being now the head of the firm, I have to sell 
off the last consignments. Kabassu heard of the resur- 
rection of Barbassou-Pasha directly he arrived at Toulon. 
He hurried off to us quite crestfallen, and when he met 
the captain literally trembled at the thought of the 
hurricane he would now have to face. But everything 
passed off very satisfactorily. My uncle interrupted his 
first mutterings of apology with a gentle growl, and 
contented himself with chaffing him for his infantine 
credulity. 

However, this incident has revived the vexed question 
of the camels. “Where are they?” asks the captain. 
Having promised to send them to the Zoological Gar- 
dens at Marseilles, he feels his honour is at stake ; 
they must be found. I support him in this view ; my 
inherited property is of course incomplete without 
them. Urgent letters on the subject have just been 
despatched to his friend Picklock, and to the officer in 
command at Aden. If necessary, a claim will be lodged 


114 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


against England ; she is undoubtedly responsible for 
them. 

In my next letter I will tell you all the news relating 
to El-Nouzha from the time when I last interrupted 
this interesting part of my narrative. My houris are 
making progress, and their education is improving. We 
are going on swimmingly. 




CHAPTER V. 


The Turks are calumniated, my friend, there’s no 
doubt about it. It is not enough for us to say and to 
believe, with the vulgar herd, that these turbaned people 
are wallowing in materialism and are not civilised ; we 
must do more than this, and convict them of their 
errors. We, fortified with a singular infatuation in our 
ideas, our habits, and our personal associations, venture 
to settle by our sovereign decrees the loftiest questions 
of sentiment. The rules to be observed by the perfect 
lover in the courtship and treatment of his lady-love, 
have been settled at tournaments, by the Courts of 
Love of Isaure, and by the College of the Gay Science. 
Our pretensions to troubadourism have never been 
abandoned. The affectations of “ L’Astrée ” have been 


116 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


erected into a code of Love, and we have succeeded in 
establishing the French cavalier as the paragon of excel- 
lence in love matters, and the perfect type of gallantry. 
The saying “ to die for one's lady-love ” rises so natu- 
rally to our lips that the most insignificant cornet 
might warble it to his Célimène without causing her to 
smile. 

You will nevertheless admit, I hope, that we ought 
to discard a few of these absurd expressions. That we 
know how to make love is not much to boast about, after 
all. The only important point for us as philosophers 
is to know whether our ideal is really the higher ideal 
— whether our treatment of woman is really more worthy 
both of her and of ourselves than the pagan treatment 
which prevails among the Eastern nations ? Here at 
once crops up the elementary dispute between the 
votaries of polygamy and monogamy. Both these in- 
stitutions are based upon divine and human laws, both 
are written down and defined in moral codes, and in 
sacred books. One takes its origin in the Bible, and 
remains faithful to its traditions; the other has de- 
veloped at some period, from the simple conventions 
of a new social order. We must not conclude that we 
alone possess the knowledge of absolute truth, merely 
because our conceit postulates for us the superiority of 
our time-honoured civilisation. All wisdom proceeds 
from God alone, and truth is for us only relative to 
place, time, and habit. Was not Jacob, when he mar- 
ried at the same time Leah and Rachel, the daughters 
of Laban, nearer than we are now to the primitive 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


117 


sentiment of the laws of nature and of revelation ? 
Do you presume to blame him, insignificant being that 
you are, because yielding to the supplication of his 
beloved Rachel he espoused — somewhat superfluously it 
may he — her handmaid Bala, with the simple object of 
having a son by her ? In presence of this idyl of the 
patriarchal age, what becomes of all our theories, our 
ideas, and our prejudices, the fruits after all of a hollow 
and worthless education ? 

You will not, I trust, do me the wrong of believing 
that I, wavering in my faith, intend forthwith to 
abandon the principles in which I was brought up. 
But a subject so serious as the one I have been devoting 
myself to, demands the most frank and honest examina- 
tion. I will not deliver a judgment; I will merely 
state the facts. Now it is an established fact that the 
people who permit by their laws a plurality of wives 
are, even at the present time, far more numerous than 
the monogamists. Statistics prove that out of the 
thousand million inhabitants of this globe, Christianity 
with all its sects, and Judaism thrown in, does not number 
more than two hundred and sixty millions according 
to Balbi, or two hundred and forty millions according 
to the London Bible Society. 

Since the remainder, consisting of Mahometans, 
Buddhists, Fire-worshippers, and Idolaters, all practise 
polygamy more or less, it follows that on this globe of 
ours, the monogamists constitute one-fourth only of 
the whole population. Such is the naked, unadorned 
truth ! 


118 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Are we wrong ? Are they right ? It is not my 
business to decide this point. Philosophers and theolo- 
gians far more patient than I am, have given it up as 
a had job. Voltaire, with his subtle genius, settled 
the question in his own characteristic fashion, by sup- 
posing that an imaginary God had from the beginning 
decreed an inequality in this matter, regulated by geo- 
graphical situation, in these words : — 

“ I shall draw a line from Mount Caucasus to Egypt, 
and from Egypt to Mount Atlas ; all men dwelling to 
the east of this line shall be permitted to marry several 
wives, while those to the west of it shall have one 
only.” 

And, as a matter of fact, it is so. 

But having disposed of this important point, there 
remains a loftier question for us to elucidate — one con- 
sisting entirely of sentiment. The treatment of woman 
being our only objective, our present business is to 
decide on which side of the line its character is the 
most respectful, the most worthy and the most flatter- 
ing towards her. Certainly our doctrine is purer, our 
law more divine. Nevertheless, as sincere judges, we 
ought, perhaps, to examine and see whether we do not 
transgress against our absolute principles. And I must 
confess that I cannot now approach this delicate ques- 
tion without some misgiving. In the judgment of every 
tribunal, the case of polygamy is a hopelessly bad one. 
That I am ready to admit ; but might it not be urged 
against the other side that in practice the court knows 
very well that the law is not observed ? What judge can 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


119 


be found, however austere, who lias never offended against 
it ? To sum tbe matter up briefly (whispering low our 
confessions, if you like), what man is there among us — 
I am not talking of Don Juans, who catalogue their 
amours, nor of Lovelaces, but of ordinary men of say 
thirty years old — who can remember how many mis- 
tresses he has had ? What, is this the monogamy we 
have been making such a flourish about ? 

Perhaps you will say that we need not see in these 
irregularities anything more than a sort of licensed 
depravity, tolerated for the sake of maintaining a 
virtuous ideal. But consider the fatal consequences of 
this hypocrisy. What becomes of our aspirations of 
the age of twenty, of our dreams and poetic fancies, 
after we have plunged into these wretched connections, 
these degrading, promiscuous attachments which form 
the current of our present habits, and from which we 
emerge at the age of thirty, sceptics, and with hearts and 
souls tarnished ? What do we reap from these frenzies 
of unhealthy passion, but contempt for woman, and 
disbelief in anything virtuous ? 

For the Turk there is no such thing as illegitimate 
love, and woman is the object of absolute respect. 
Never having more than one master, she cannot fall 
in his esteem. Having been bought as a slave, she 
becomes a wife directly she sets foot in the harem ; 
her rights are sacred, and she cannot any more be 
abandoned. The laws protect her; she has a recog- 
nised position, a title ; her children are legitimate, arid 
if by chance 


120 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


I suspend this philosophical digression, in order to 
inform you of a momentous occurrence. El-Nouzha 
has just been the scene of a sanguinary drama. A 
rebellion has broken out among my sultanas. 

My harem is on strike. 

You will ask me how this storm came to break upon 
me just as I was settling down into the most innocent 
and tranquil frame of mind ? It can only be explained 
by a retrospective survey of certain domestic circum- 
stances, which the changes that have been going on at 
Férouzat had caused me to overlook. 

You will not have forgotten the terrible commotion 
caused in my harem by the news of my uncle’s resur- 
rection. My poor houris, dreading some fatal drama of 
the usual Turkish character, had indeed passed through 
a cruel time of distress and anguish. When their alarms 
were dissipated, a revival of animation soon mani- 
fested itself in their spirits ; but, as ill-luck would have 
it, and as I have told you, one little detail of this 
day’s proceedings, unimportant as it appeared at the 
time, was destined to disturb their harmony, so perfect 
hitherto, and to arouse their jealousies. Kondjé-Gul 
had been to the château, and a silly ambition to 
attempt the same freak had got into the heads of Nazli 
and Zouhra. I at once expressed a decided opposition 
to this childish scheme ; but, of course, from the 
moment it met with opposition, it developed into a 
fixed purpose. 

Within the limited circle of ideas in which they 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


121 


move, their imaginations had been excited — curiosity, 
the attractions of forbidden fruit. The long and the 
short of it was that, at the sight of their genuine 
disappointment — a disappointment aggravated by con- 
tinual and jealous suspicions of a preference on my part 
for Kondjé-Gul — I had almost made up my mind to 
yield for one occasion, when my aunt arrived, which at 
once put an end to any thought of such good-natured 
hut weak concessions. 

I imagined myself to be armed now with an over- 
whelming reason for refusing their request, but it 
turned out quite otherwise. When they heard that my 
uncle's wife was at the château, they asked to be allowed 
to make her acquaintance. They said that they were 
really hound as cadines , according to Turkish custom, to 
pay their respects to my uncle’s wife, “ whom her position 
as legitimate spouse places hierarchically above us.’' 
I got over this difficulty by telling them that my aunt, 
being a Christian, was forbidden by her creed to have 
any intercourse with Mussulmans. 

What especially distinguishes the Turkish woman, 
my dear Louis, from the woman whose character has 
been fashioned by our own remarkable civilisation, is 
the instinctive, inborn respect which she always pre- 
serves and observes towards man. Man is the master 
and the lord, she is his servant, and she would never 
dream of setting herself up as his equal. The Koran 
on this point has hardly at all modified the biblical 
traditions. Unfortunately for me, I must confess that 
in my household I have disregarded the law of Islam. 


122 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Inspired by a higher ideal, you will understand, without 
my mentioning it, that my first object has been to 
abolish slavery from my harem, by inculcating into the 
minds of my houris principles more in conformity with 
the Christianity which I profess. I wished, like a 
modern Prometheus, to kindle the divine spark in these 
young and beautiful barbarians, whose minds are still 
wrapped up in their oriental superstitions. I wished to 
elevate their souls, to cultivate their minds, and in short, to 
make them my free companions and no longer my helots. 

I may assert with pride that I have been partially 
successful in my task. Three months of this treatment 
had hardly elapsed before all traces of servile subordi- 
nation had disappeared. With this faculty for meta- 
morphosis existing in them, which all women possess, 
but which is for ever denied to us men, and thanks 
above all to the revelations of our customs and habits 
contained in novels of my selection, which Kondjé-Gul 
read to them during my hours of absence, and to 
which they listened with admiration (for they were 
eager to know all about this world of ours, which was 
as yet unknown to them), I soon obtained a charming 
combination. Their strange exotic mixture of oriental 
graces, blending happily with efforts to imitate the 
refinements of our civilisation, their artless tokens of 
ignorance, their coquettish and feline instincts, their 
voluptuous bearing in process of attempted transforma- 
tion into bashful reserve, all these phenomena afforded 
me the most delightful subject for study ever entered 
on by a philosopher. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


123 


Nevertheless, I must admit that the education of 
their intellects did not keep pace with the cultivation 
of their ideas, but rendered them still liable to commit 
a number of solecisms. I had an interest, moreover, 
in keeping them in a certain degree of ignorance of the 
actual laws of our own world. Imbued with their 
native ideas, their credulity accepted without hesitation, 
everything which I chose to tell them about “ the 
customs of the harems of France,” and they conformed 
to them without making any pretence to further know- 
ledge of them. None the less, there began to grow 
up in their minds ideas of independence and self- 
will, the natural consequences of the elevation effected 
in their sentiments. The notion of a truer and 
more tender love was used by them henceforth as 
a weapon against my absolute authority. Only too 
happy to be treated as a lover rather than a master, 
I did not feel any loss in this respect: love is 
kept alive by these numberless little stratagems of a 
woman, who loves and desires — yet desires not — and 
so forth. And then, you must remember, I had four 
wives. 

They on their part, having no aims, no ambitions, 
but to please me, the sole object of their common love, 
each tried to effect my conquest in order to obtain the 
advantage over her rivals — an emulation of which I 
experienced all the charms. Notwithstanding the fact 
that I distributed my affections with a rare impartiality, 
I could not always prevent the occurrence of jealous 
quarrels among them. Afterwards ensued regrets 


124 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


tender reproaches, and clouds of sadness melting into 
tears. Peace was restored amid foolish outbursts of 
mirth. But you cannot realise what a task it has been 
for me to preserve the harmony of a well-regulated 
household among creatures with their impulsive 
imaginations, which have ripened under the heat of 
their native oriental sun. They have mixed up their 
superstitions with those higher principles of which I 
have endeavoured to inculcate a notion into their minds, 
and which they often interpret in quite a different sense. 
All this has been the occasion for the display of 
charming eccentricities. My little animals have grown 
into women, and along with the development of a more 
intelligent love, I have seen manifestations of a 
coquettish mutinous spirit, upon the slightest evidence 
of partiality on my part, which they have thought to 
detect in me. 

I must tell you that Kondjé-Gul, who is really a very 
intelligent girl, had begun to study with great ardour, 
and it naturally followed that she benefited more from 
her lessons than the others, who treated them rather as 
an amusement. In three months she learnt French 
tolerably well — she it was who translated the novels to 
them. Hence arose a superiority on her side, which 
must in any case have produced a good deal of envy 
among the others. On the top of this came her famous 
excursion to the château, concerning which the silly 
creature gave them marvellous accounts, in order to 
pose as favourite. I should add that Kondjé-Gul, being 
of an extremely jealous nature, often gave way to violent 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


125 


fits of passion. Hadidjé, for some reason or other, 
more especially excited her suspicions. Hadidjé has an 
excitable temperament. Between them, consequently, 
a considerable coolness arose : this, however, created 
nothing worse than a few clouds on my fine sky. For 
the passive domesticities of the harem, I had substi- 
tuted love ; for its obedience, the free expansions and 
impulses of the heart. 

I must add, however, that while rising to purer con- 
ceptions of truth, my houris retained too much of 
their native instincts not to get their heads turned 
somewhat by the novelty of their situation. Having 
equal rights, they claimed the same rank in my 
esteem. From this it resulted that Hadidjé, Nazli, 
and Zouhra at last took umbrage at the success of 
Kondjé-Gul, who was wrong in trying to outstrip them. 
“ Kondjé-Gul,” they proclaimed, “wishes to act the 
savante. Kondjé-Gul gives herself the airs of a legiti- 
mate Sultana.” I must confess that the said little 
coquette was only too careful to impress them with her 
successes, of which she was rather proud. One evening 
she sat down to the piano, and, with a careless air, 
played part of a waltz, which she had learnt on the sly 
in order to surprise me. You may guess what the 
effect was. This triumph put the finishing touch to 
their provocation, and the evening was spent in sulky 
murmurs. 

Finally, one day when I arrived at the harem I found 
Kondjé-Gul shut up in her own room, bathed in tears. 
The storm which had been impending so long had burst 


126 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


over her proud head — Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli had 
beaten her. 

Once more I appeased their discords, by recourse to a 
new declaration of principles. The reconciliation was 
celebrated by a general display of cordiality; hut a 
faction had been formed within the ranks. At the very 
time that I least expected it, Nazli, Hadidjé, and 
Zouhra returned to their idea of a secret visit to the 
château. This project, which so far had only been 
carried on by detached skirmishes, w r as still cherished 
by them, and was now pursued by a compact body of 
troops, combining their siege-manoeuvres with a rare 
concentration of boldness and courage. Their weapons 
were tender caresses and those innumerable cajoleries of 
women, which nearly always compel us to surrender in 
desperation to their most unreasonable whims. My 
oriental menage was still walking on a flowery path, 
but a snare was hidden under the dead leaves. ... A 
few weeks later, when I was completely entangled in the 
subtle meshes of their cunning, the whole line changed 
their tactics. They said no more about Férouzat, but I 
soon saw exhibitions on every side of frivolous caprices, 
sudden fits of sulkiness, unexpected refusals, and so forth. 

My odalisques had become civilised. 

I was too good a tactician to allow myself to be out- 
flanked by this artful little game, the concerted object 
of which I pretended not to perceive. Whenever they 
fancied they had obtained a success over me, I im- 
mediately transferred my attentions to Kondjé-Gul, 
and the attacking party disbanded, surrendering uncon- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


127 


ditionally. Unfortunately Kondjé-Gul, relying upon 
my weakness for her, tried to carry off a decisive victory 
by a sudden charge. The other evening, having accom- 
panied me up to the secret door, she rushed through it 
with a laugh, and made off for the chateau, right 
through the grounds of Férouzat. I ran after her and 
soon caught her, encumbered as she was by her oriental 
slippers and her long train. I took her back to the 
harem, where the others seemed to be awaiting, in a 
great state of excitement, the result of this most 
audacious attempt. Then I learnt that “ she had 
boasted she would obtain this fresh triumph over them.” 
This was a flagrant offence. After such an act of 
rebellion it was necessary to make an example : I spoke 
severely, and there was a tremendous scene. Kondjé- 
Gul had too much pride to humiliate herself before her 
rivals, who were rejoicing over her defeat. Distracted 
with vexation and carried away by her foolish impulses, 
she made the breach between us complete. For three 
days she remained haughty and arrogant, accepting her 
disgrace, but too proud to make any advances for a recon- 
ciliation. Needless to say, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra 
were more affectionate and attentive to me than ever. 

Such was the condition of affairs when the critical 
incident took place which I undertook to describe to you. 

The other evening, I was in the harem, and Nazli 
and Zouhra were playing Turkish airs on the zither, 
while Hadidjé, seated at my feet, with her head resting 
upon her hands, which were crossed on my knees, was 
singing in a low murmur the words of each tune. 


128 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Kondjé-Gul stayed near the verandah, looking cool and 
dignified, and smoking a cigarette in the defiant, and at 
the same time resigned attitude of a hardened rebel ; 
but the furtive glances which she cast at Hadidjé gave 
the lie to her affected calmness. For two evenings past 
we had not exchanged a word with each other. She 
had dressed herself that day with remarkable care, as if 
to impress me with the splendours of the paradise I had 
lost : her glorious hair streamed down in long tresses, 
somewhat disorderly, from under her pearl-embroidered 
cap. Notwithstanding a great gauze veil with which 
she pretended to enshroud herself in order to conceal 
her charms from my profane eyes, her bodice was so 
slightly fastened that it dropped down just low enough 
to expose to view the charming little pits under her arms 
and the snowy-whiteness of her breasts. Like a wrathful 
Venus, the expression on her face w r as both mutinous 
and resolute. She had put kohl under her eyes (a thing 
which I forbid), and had blackened and lengthened her 
eyebrows so that they met together, in Turkish fashion. 
In this get-up the little sinner looked ravishing ! 

Now you can picture to yourself the scene, and guess 
my state of mind. The weird tones of the zither, with 
their penetrating and singularly melancholy vibrations, 
the strange yet graceful costumes, the scent of those 
flowers with which the daughters of the East always 
adorn themselves, the all-pervading voluptuous atmos- 
phere the enchantment of which I cannot explain to 
you ; finally, the fair rebel gloomy and jealous, in the 
corner of the picture ! All this, without my being any 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


129 


longer surprised by it, kept me in a sort of happy con- 
tentment, like that of a well satisfied vizir, which 
defies all analysis, but which you will understand. 

All at once the music ceased. 

“ André/’ said Hadidjé to me, “ won’t you come 
into the garden for a little while ? ” 

“ Come along !” I replied, and rose up to go. 

She took my arm. Zouhra and Nazli followed us. 
As I went out by the verandah, I passed close to 
Kondjé-Gul ; she drew back with a superb air of 
dignity, as if she feared lest her dress should be ruffled 
by me. Then darting a look of withering scorn at 
Hadidjé, she wrapped herself up in her veil and leant 
against the balustrade, watching us go off. It was a 
delicious autumn evening, the air was soft and the 
sky clear and starry. Under our feet the dry leaves 
crackled. Hadidjé wanted to have a row in the boat, 
so we went towards the lake. As we rowed along we 
caught glimpses of Kondjé-Gul from time to time, 
through the openings between the trees ; her motionless 
figure stood out like a solitary shadow in front of the 
illuminated window of the drawing-room. 

“ That’s capital ! ” said Hadidjé, who was rowing with 
Nazli ; “ How dismal she looks ! But then why does she 
try to get privileges over us ? Let us stay here.” 

“ Oh ! ” answered Zouhra in an indifferent tone, as 
she lay back on the cushions, “Not the whole evening, 
I hope, for it’s rather cold.” 

“ Why didn’t you bring your feridjié then,” said 
Nazli; “you poor sensitive creature ? ” 


130 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ I will go and fetch it if you like,” I said to Zouhra. 

“ Oh, no ! ” she answered quickly ; “ if you leave us 
we shall be afraid.” 

“Very well then, I'll go,” said Hadidjé, who wanted 
to carry out her plan. “ Let us row to the bank.” 

We pulled up to the point nearest to the chateau, and 
Hadidjé, not without some nervousness after all, left us 
and ran off. 

“Keep your eye on me all the time, won’t you?” 
she said to me as she picked up her long skirt. 

Soon we saw her reach the verandah without any 
adventure. She ascended the steps and passed in front 
of Kondjé-Gul. It seemed to us that Kondjé-Gul 
spoke very passionately to her, and that she answered 
her in the same tones. At last they both had gone in, 
when all at once we heard piercing shrieks. Apprehend- 
ing some skirmishing between my two jealous houris, I 
rushed off, followed at a distance by Zouhra and Nazli, 
who were frightened at the thought of being left alone. 
As I entered the harem I found Hadidjé and Kondjé- 
Gul, with their hair dishevelled and their clothes torn, 
struggling together. Kondjé-Gul was armed with a 
little golden dagger, which she wore in her hair, and 
was striking Hadidjé with it. When she saw me she 
fled and ran to her room to shut herself in. 

We hastened to the assistance of poor Hadidjé. She 
had been wounded on the shoulder, and blood was 
flowing. Happily the weapon, too harmless to v’ound 
seriously, had not penetrated the flesh ; but, breaking 
with the blow, it had scratched her rather severely. I 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


131 


soon felt reassured, and quieted her cries, but not with- 
out some trouble. 

Mohammed and the servants had run up to the res- 
cue ; I sent them all back, and after calming Nazli and 
Zouhra, I staunched the wound with some water. In a 
few minutes, Hadidjé, who had fancied herself murdered, 
regained her tranquillity of mind, and only complained 
just enough to keep alive our interest in her grievance. 

Then I questioned her, and she told us that as soon 
as she had entered the drawing-room, Kondjé-Gul 
followed her, and giving vent there and then to an out- 
burst of passion, accused her of being the cause of her 
disgrace, reproaching her with hypocritical devices for 
getting over me. Hadidjé, according to her version of 
the affair, had only replied with extreme moderation, 
when Kondjé-Gul, exasperated all of a sudden, rushed 
at her with her dagger. 

I knew Hadidjé’s character too well to place an 
implicit belief in the whole of this account ; still it was 
important to put an end to such escapades. The 
happiness of my household, which had hitherto been so 
peaceful, was endangered if I failed to act like a just 
but strict husband. After this outrage committed by 
Kondjé-Gul, my houris, in their indignation, insisted 
upon a signal vengeance, and demanded forthwith that 
I should deliver her up to the cadi. The cadi ! that 
was coming it strong. I had some difficulty, however, in 
overcoming their persistency ; at last they agreed to a less 
tragic form of punishment, which went no further than the 
expulsion of this unworthy companion from the harem. 


132 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Such escapades might, I feared, get wind outside, 
and cause a scandal. However much allowance I might 
make for the tempers of my houris in these demands 
for a somewhat summary punishment, I could not con- 
ceal from myself that, taking everything into considera- 
tion,. it was really necessary for me to punish the offence 
severely, into whatever difficulties this adventure might 
lead me. I promised to give satisfaction to their legi- 
timate indignation. Then, leaving Hadidjé to the care 
of Zouhra and Nazli, I proclaimed that I was going at 
once to subject the culprit to an examination, after 
which I should pronounce sentence upon her. 



*■' ' 



P Avr: 


Kondjé-Gul was shut up in her room ; I found her 
sitting on her bed, which was disarranged, and the 
pillows of which seemed to have been rumpled up in a 
fit of rage and despair ; she appeared like one stupified, 
with her gloomy looks, and hands clasping her knees. 
Her face and her neck bore the marks of Hadidjé’s nails. 
The kohl from under her eyes had been smeared on 
her cheeks, which were smudged all over ; she looked 
just like a little savage, with however the gracefulness 
of a child. 

She did not stir when I came in ; I walked right up 
to her, and in the solemn tone of a judge, said — 

“ Wretched girl, do you know what you have done ?” 

She remained silent and motionless, fixing her eyes 
on the carpet. 


134 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ After such an act, will you not answer ?” I con- 
tinued. 

“ Why do you love her ? ” she said at last, in a wild 
voice. 

“Say, why should I love you ?” I replied, * 1 when 
your bad temper and your jealousy lead you to dis- 
obedience, to crime — when you stir up quarrels and 
discords among us ? ” 

At these reproaches Kondjé-Gul all at once drew her- 
self up erect before me, and exclaimed passionately — 

“ Then you do not love me any longer ?” 

My questions had not reached their mark. 

“ This is not the time for me to answer you,” I said. 
“Iam now asking you to account for the act which you 
have just committed.” 

“Very well ! If you love me no more, I want you to 
confess it, and I will die ! What have I done to you, 
that you should prefer Hadidjé to me ? Perhaps she 
is handsomer than I am, is she? If you think me 
ugly,” she added, in a tone of concentrated despair, 
“ tell me straight, and I will go and cast myself into the 
lake, and you shall see me no more ! ” 

“But no! I did not say that,” I replied, trying to 
cut short this diversion. 

“ Then what are you reproaching me for ? Hadidjé 
loves you better than I do, perhaps ? ” 

“Neither Hadidjé’s sentiments nor mine have any- 
thing to do with the question. I am asking you about 
your violence, and the wound you have given her with 
the dagger ! ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


135 


“ Why did she tell me that you love her better than 
me ? ” she answered. 

“ She told you that ? ” 

“ Yes ; and pretends that you swore to it. For my 
part, I do not want to he loved like a slave. I have 
learnt from your books that women in your country die 
when they are no longer loved. So if you have ceased 
to love me, I wish to die ! You have told me that I 
have a heart, a soul, and an intellect, as they have, and 
that a woman’s love makes her the equal of her master. 
Do you mean to tell me, ungrateful man, that I do not 
love you ? Have I ever been jealous of Zouhra, or of 
Nazli ? Why should this Hadidjé he everything in your 
eyes ? If you do not want me any more,” she added, in 
a transport of grief, “ say so, then ; crop my hair, shave 
off my eyebrows, and place me among the servants ! ” 

As she said these words, she threw herself down at 
my feet, which she hugged in a delirium of passion. 
Her tears coursed down her cheeks, and upon my hands, 
which she covered with kisses. In her intense emotion 
her voice betokened such bitter distress, that in spite 
of my determination to punish her, I felt softened 
towards her. In presence of these transports of a pas- 
sion, which admitted no other motive but that of her 
jealous rage, I saw that it was in vain for me to attempt 
to awaken her conscience to the sense of her guilty 
conduct. She could neither hear nor feel anything but 
the echo of her own grief. I loved her no longer, and 
I loved Hadidjé ! These words returned to her lips 
over and over again, amid sobs so heart-rending that, 


136 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


overcome by pity, and forgetting my resolution, I could 
not help uttering a word of protestation. I had hardly 
spoken, when she exclaimed — 

“ Is that true ? Do you really love me ? Will you 
swear it ? ” 

I then understood the imprudence I had committed, 
but it was too late. Kondjé-Gul, passing at once from 
affliction to joy, had clasped me in her arms. I wanted 
to remain stern ; but how could I contend by any argu- 
ments with such outbursts of mad jealousy ? She 
would not listen to me : she implored me with all the 
frenzied entreaties and reproaches of which an unreason- 
ing nature is capable. At one moment I believed that 
I had at last brought her mind to realise the actual 
situation between us, and the justice of my complaints 
against her conduct. 

“ Well, yes ! ” she said, “ I have been very foolish. 
I ought to have thrown myself at your feet three days 
ago ! Ah, if you only knew how wretched your coldness 
made me ! Listen : when you came in just now, think- 
ing that I had lost your love for ever, I was considering 
how I could kill myself. But you have forgiven me, 
have you not ? — No, no ! don’t speak to me about 
them ! ” she continued, shafply, seeing that I was about 
to answer. “ You know very well that I am no longer 
like them ; you have formed my heart for a different 
love to that of the harem. I no longer love you just as 
they do. No ! As for you, you shall love me just as 
you please — as your servant, if such is your will. Im- 
prison me, if you like, as a punishment ; all I want is to 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


137 


see you, and to love you. Yes, I was wrong in striking 
that Hadidjé. You know very well that I am still a 
savage, for you have often told me so. Well, then, 
teach me your own ideas, your religion. Tell me what 
you wish me to be ? ” she added finally, in tones so soft 
and tender that I was quite overcome by her. 

I was astounded by this language, by this impassioned 
eloquence which I had never suspected in her, and 
which I now heard from her lips for the first time. The 
butterfly of love had spread out its wings. Psyche was 
born for love ! No longer for that passive and vague 
love which was but the awakening of the senses and of 
pleasure, but for that love of the heart which is life 
itself, with its sorrows, its joys, and its ecstacies. I 
contemplated it full of surprise, experiencing the fascina- 
tion of some new enchantment. 

Louis, how can I describe it ? Within an hour after 
I had entered Kondjé-Gul’s room ; our quarrel, her 
jealousies, her offence, and the punishment I had 
resolved upon, were all forgotten ! 

Nevertheless, appreciating more completely now the 
defeat to which I had submitted, I could not fail to 
perceive the embarrassment which such strange conduct 
would cause me. It would, at any rate, be remarkably 
awkward for my wives to learn that the violent scene 
which had passed, and poor Hadidjé’ s dagger-wound, had 
actually become the occasion for a reconciliation with 
Kondjé-Gul. How could I show my face before the 
victim to whom it was my duty to grant justice ? It 
was really impossible for me to show such contempt for 


138 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


fas and nefas as I should do were I to reward her 
assault upon Hadidjé in such an extraordinary fashion 
as by pardoning her. What in the world would Zouhra 
and Nazli say ? It would be all over with my authority 
and my reputation. 

At any cost, therefore, it was necessary for me to con- 
ceal my very imprudent weakness until their passions 
had calmed down, or until some conciliatory advances 
on the part of Kondjé-Gul to Hadidjé had led to the 
forgiveness of this deplorable folly. But directly I 
attempted to appeal to her reason, Kondjé-Gul, full of 
pride at having won me back, and even making use of 
my desertion as a weapon in her hands, would not hear 
of humiliating herself before a rival. In vain I repre- 
sented to her that my own dignity, “ the proprieties,” 
and justice were at stake ; she held fast to her victory, 
and would not forego any of its advantages. 

Finally, however, she comprehended the gravity of 
the situation. 

“ Well, do you know what we’ll do ? ” she said ; “ it 
will be so nice ! They will all believe that you have 
given me a tremendous scolding. And so you have, for 
you were cruel when first you came in ! ” 

“ I suppose you did not deserve it then ?” I answered. 

“ Hold your tongue, sir ! ” she said, putting her finger 
up to her mouth, and pouting like a little child. 
“ You’re going to begin again ! Let me tell you my 
plan, which will settle all our difficulties.” 

“ Let me hear your plan.” 

“ Very well ; you shall tell them that you have been 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


139 


inexorable, and that you have treated me as an odious 
creature. For my part, I shall look still more angry 
with you. Before them, we will scowl at each other, 
and make them believe that all is quite at an end 
between us, and that you have decided to send me away 
and have me sold.” 

“What a capital idea !” I said to her. 

“ Yes, do let us. It will be so delightful, so clandes- 
tine ! And then I shall feel that you love me better 
than them ! ” 

“ Because we shall deceive them, I suppose.” 

“ Yes, yes ! ” she exclaimed, with a laugh ; “ because 
we shall deceive them ! Besides,” she added in a tone 
of conviction, “ you must know very well yourself that 
there is no other rational course for us. In the first 
place I swear I will never beg the pardon of this miser- 
able Hadidjé — never ! ” 

For the present it was clearly necessary to agree to 
this compromise, which at least provided for the exigen- 
cies of decorum. When I left Kondjé-Gul I returned 
to the château from motives of prudence, in order to 
avoid rousing the suspicions of my wives. 

Nevertheless I must admit it was not without some 
apprehensions that I returned the next day to the 
harem. But I was soon reassured when I saw the 
amiable satisfaction which prevailed among my houris. 
The absence of Kondjé-Gul, who remained in stoic 
seclusion, left no doubt in their minds that she was in 
complete disgrace and would certainly be sent away. I 
even gathered that the silly creature had shown Nazli 


140 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


some blue marks which she had made on her own skin, 
and told her that I had beaten her ! Hadidjé, rather 
proud of her wound, continued to give herself interesting 
airs as the principal heroine of this terrible tragedy. As 
it was in reality merely a scratch, which hurt her very 
little, her only object in complaining was to emphasize 
her caprices. After the stormy days we had just gone 
through, this morning passed like an idyl. Their 
spirits were all harmonious ; and I left them firmly con- 
vinced that from the way I performed my great act of 
justice they had no longer anything to fear at the hands 
of a rival. 

Satisfied at this termination of the incident, which 
had caused me no small anxiety, I was returning to the 
château, when lo and behold ! as I was passing the 
bushes, who should appear but Kondjé-Gul, who ran up 
and threw herself into my arms. 

“ How’s this ?” I said to her ; “ you here ! ” 

‘‘Yes, dear; I wanted to see you and kiss you,” she 
exclaimed, bounding with joy like a child ; “ and to 
hear you tell me that you love me still ! ” 

“You mad creature, suppose anyone were to see 
you ! ” 

“ All right ! ” she replied ; “I jumped down from my 
window, for they think I am a prisoner there. I slipped 
under the verandah, so as not to be noticed by Moham- 
med, and came here to wait for you. Now, don’t scold 
me. Now that I have seen you I am going back, for 
fear I should rouse the suspicion of your wives. Tell 
me if I’m not clever ! ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 141 

Then, just as she was running away again, she added 
in a little tone of importance, 

“And mind you're careful too ! ” 

Eight days have passed since the dramatic events, 
of which I have related to you the singular termination. 
Here I am involved in a regular conspiracy of deceit ; I 
have a secret intrigue with one of my wives. Kondjé- 
Gul plays her part of estrangement in a most curious 
fashion, with an affectation of melancholy, combined with 
haughtiness, and the silly creature is delighted with 
her efforts. . After two or three days of seclusion, she 
reappeared, talked cynically of her approaching de- 
parture, and rejoiced over it. We treat each other like 
spouses definitely divorced from each other, who are 
nevertheless paying each other, as well-bred people 
should do, a final tribute of strict politeness after the 
irreparable breach. Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra, con- 
fident in a dominion which appears to them henceforth 
assured, admire my great qualities as a dispenser of 
justice. 

My dear Louis, do you wish me to confess to you the 
most remarkable consequence of this business ? Yes, of 
course you do. I promised that this psychological 
study should be conducted with sincerity, and that 
nothing should he shirked. Well then, in the course 
of my analytical observations, this mystery with Kondjé- 
Gul, these tastings of forbidden fruit, form certainly the 
most exquisite experience I have met with. You may 
tell me, if you like, that I am a pandour , and that my 


142 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


taste has been perverted by a life of unbridled Epicure- 
anism ; you may tell me that the charms of duplicity, 
of falsehood, and of this connivance in the guise of a 
childish deception, are exercising a morbid fascination 
over my demoralized heart. You may be right. I would 
only ask you to express yourself somewhat less bluntly. 
At any rate, you will not, I presume, expect me to 
account for the frailties of our mortal nature. I guess 
what you are thinking — out with it ! 

Notwithstanding my fine array of principles and the 
strict vows I made to myself to distribute my affec- 
tions equally between my cadines f it certainly looks very 
much as if I have selected a favourite. Have I fallen 
to this extent? I don’t know. What is the good, 
moreover, of arguing about it ? Is it true that undis- 
turbed possession is the rock upon which love splits, 
and that constraint, on the contrary, acts as a spur to 
it ? Instead of arguing aimlessly about such incon- 
sistencies in human nature, it seems to me much simpler 
to recognise in them, as Kondjé-Gul does, a decree of 
Fate. Can you blame me for sacrificing futile theories 
to the higher motives by which I am guided ? 

The fact is that this necessity for dissimulation, these 
deceptions, and these clandestine interviews, have pro- 
duced between Kondjé-Gul and me a sort of spring-tide of 
delightful expansion of the affections. You should see 
us in the day-time, both of us as stiff as starch in the 
presence of the others. You should see the manœuvres 
we perform in order to exchange a sly smile or a shake 
of the hands out of sight. You should see also what 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


143 


pretty little airs of disdain she puts on for her rivals, 
who are slumbering in their paradise of illusion ! If 
we are alone by chance, she says, 

“ Quick ! your wives are not here,” and throws herself 
into my arms. 

Those words coming from her lips, will reveal to you 
quite a new order of sentiments, a strange form of love, 
which could only spring from the education of the 
harem. Although civilised already at heart, Kondjé- 
Gul being still backward in her ideas and traditional 
associations, does not trouble herself about my other 
wives. She could not conceive of my being reduced to 
such a singular state of destitution as that of a poor 
or a miserly man, who abstains from the luxury of a 
few odalisques. In her eyes, Hadidjé, Zouhra, and 
Nazli, form part of my establishment, and of my daily 
routine ; while she possesses me in secret. For her 
sake, I am unfaithful to them, I enter her chamber at 
night by the window, which I climb up to when all are 
asleep. 

All this, you will tell me, is folly on my part. Ah, 
my dear fellow, our pleasure in life is only made up of 
such trifles, which our imagination generally provides 
for us. In those secret interviews I discovered in 
Kondjé-Gul, who was certainly endowed with a frank 
and straightforward mind, a number of graces which I 
had never been able to detect before during our inter- 
course in the harem. Nothing could be stranger or 
more fascinating than the love of this poor slave- 
sweetheart, still so humble and timid, and dazzled as it 


144 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


were by the brilliancy of her dream. Her oriental ideas 
and the superstitions of her childhood, mingled with 
the yague notions which she has acquired of our world 
and of a truer ideal, form within her heart and in her 
mind a most original collection of contrasts. One 
is reminded of a bird suddenly surprised at feeling 
her wings, but not yet venturing to launch out into the 
open. Add to all these attractions the impulses of a 
passion, exalted perhaps by solitude or by satisfaction 
at her victory over her rivals, and, even if you blame 
my conduct, you will at least understand the seductions 
which precipitated my fall. 

At Férouzat we have great news : the camels have 
been discovered ! A letter from Captain Picklock 
informed us of this. My uncle is quite jubilant ; and 
we have planned a trip to Marseilles to meet them. 
Another piece of news is that my aunt has undertaken 
with Doctor Morand, without appearing to have a hand 
in it, a great philanthropic work. I must tell you that 
a few years ago the doctor discovered here a hot spring 
of ferruginous water, the effects of which upon the few 
patients whom he was able to induce to visit this hole, 
have been simply marvellous. What is wanted now is 
to establish there some sort of hospital for convales- 
cents. My aunt at once decided that she, my uncle, 
and I should find the funds for it. A hundred thousand 
francs are more than sufficient for the modest founda- 
tion which we contemplate. But from motives of 
delicacy, and in order to avoid any appearance of osten- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


145 


tation, we arranged with the mayor and the vicar to 
open a subscription, in order that the enterprise might 
appear to be supported by public charity, and that all 
personal liberality should be concealed by associating 
the whole district with it. The consequence was that 
Férouzat has had a visit from the Prefect of the Depart- 
ment, accompanied by several members of the General 
Council, and that, in addition to this, my aunt has 
organised a committee of the leading inhabitants of the 
neighbourhood. Of course I am her secretary, and I 
leave you to guess whether her activity overworks me. I 
assure you my aunt has in her the making of a statesman. 

My dear friend, an incident of noteworthy importance, 
and of quite exceptional gravity, has just thrown me 
into the greatest perturbation of mind. 

The other morning my aunt started upon a round of 
calls on behalf of her great enterprise. 

“ André,” she said to me, “ come with me like a 
good nephew ; I need your help.” 

So off we started in the carriage, down the great 
drive of the château ; I thinking that we were going to 
the doctor’s, or else to the Camboulious. When we 
arrived at the gate, Bernard asked from his box for his 
orders. 

“ To El-Nouzha,” said my aunt. 

“ What !” I exclaimed, “ to Mohammed- Azis ? ” 

“Yes,” she replied; “His Excellency’s name will 
look very nice on our list. It will be a sort of pledge of 
our excellent foreign relations.” 


146 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Have you forgotten ? A Mahometan ! ” 

“ Certainly : an infidel’s charity is quite as good in 
its effects as a Christian’s.” 

“But he lives a very retired life. Such a visit will 
take him very much by surprise.” 

“ You are intimate with him ; you introduce me. 
Nothing could be more correct ; that’s why I brought 
you with me.” 

In truth nothing could he more correct ; I was 
caught in her trap, and could say nothing more, for 
fear of exciting suspicion in her alert and penetrating 
mind. I had no doubt in my own mind that my aunt’s 
real object was to satisfy a curiosity which she had 
cherished for a long time past. How could I oppose 
this tenacious purpose of hers? By what plausible 
pretext could I divert her from taking a step so natural, 
and so cleverly justified ? I was caught, and my only 
hopes rested in Mohammed’s behaviour, and in his 
gibberish dialect, which would at least render con- 
versation so difficult, that it would be easy for me to 
intervene. We rolled on in the carriage ; my aunt was 
delighted. I succeeded pretty well in concealing my 
apprehensions. After all, the chief danger seemed to 
be over directly my aunt stopped at the official entrance 
of El-Nouzha. The “ selamlik,” inhabited by Mo- 
hammed, where we were received, is according to the 
Turkish custom, entirely separated from the harem, the 
gardens of which are walled off from it, and hidden from 
sight. 

In a quarter of an hour we arrived in front of His 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


147 


Excellency’s abode. The gate was shut, as it always is. 
The footman got down and rang, hut no one answered 
the bell. For a moment I had hopes ; but at the 
third ring of the bell (which my aunt ordered), one of 
Mohammed’s servants, a Cerberus stationed on this 
side of the house, showed himself at the grating of the 
inner door. 

“ His Excellency Mohammed- Azis is at home, is he 
not?” shouted my aunt. “ Tell him that Monsieur 
André de Peyrade has called to see him.” 

Recognising me in the carriage, Cerberus hesitated. 
He was actually going to open the gate to let the carriage 
pass through. I sharply commanded him to do as my 
aunt told him. To give Mohammed warning, was at 
once to put him on his guard. 

“ There is no need for taking the carriage in,” said 
my aunt ; “we will cross the lawn on foot. The lawn 
is there still, I suppose ? ” 

“ Yes, aunt.” 

“Well, then, give me your hand to get out, and now 
forward ! If His Excellency will not receive us, I shall 
at least have had a glimpse of a corner of the park. 
What a funny idea it was of the Cap Gain to let him this 
place ! ” 

She led me on without any more ado, and we entered. 

“ Oh ! the sycamores have grown splendidly,” she 
said. 

At that moment we noticed Mohammed coming down 
the steps, and walking towards us. 

“ Ah, His Excellency has not forsaken his old ideas! ** 


148 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


said my aunt ; “ he still wears the costume of the true 
believers. As he is coming, let us hurry on, to be 
polite.” 

The danger was impending, nothing could now save 
me from it. I summoned up all my self-control. When 
I was a few steps off His Excellency, I slipped away 
quickly and ran up to him. 

“Be careful,” I said to him in a whisper; “it is 
my aunt. Keep your counsel, and don’t let her 
suspect anything.” 

Then I went through the formal introduction, deliver- 
ing it in the famous sabir which I told you of. 
Mohammed in the same idiom was fashioning a compli- 
ment as profound as it was difficult to understand, 
when my aunt all at once answered him in the purest 
Turkish. — I felt myself quite lost. 

A minute afterwards we were ensconced in the 
drawing-room of the “ selamlik.” My aunt described 
the object of her visit. I must tell you that this rascal 
Mohammed played his part with the most affable 
gravity imaginable, albeit somewhat timidly, as if he 
felt whizzing through the air a shadowy reminder of 
the stick with which, no doubt, my uncle had trained 
him. I kept my eye on him all the time, and his eye 
wandered from me to my aunt with a distressed expres- 
sion. Great drops of perspiration started from his face. 
Finally, at a sign from me, he generously promised 
his subscription, and on the whole got through the ordeal 
very well. 

My anxieties being now removed, I was beginning to 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


149 


breathe more fully, when my aunt, just as the interview 
was coming to a close, expressed to him, in the most 
gracefully delicate manner possible, her desire to pay a 
visit to his daughters, whose acquaintance she would 
be delighted to make. 

I was stupefied. To have refused the entree of the 
harem to a lady of my aunt’s rank would have been an 
offence to her; she was too well acquainted with 
Mussulman customs for it to be possible to put her off 
with any pretext. Mohammed, still maintaining his 
dignified attitude, replied without any hesitation, by a 
gesture of delighted acquiescence, and without the least 
embarrassment got up, saying that he was about to 
inform them of their good fortune. I felt rather 
reassured. From the manner in which the old fellow 
had acted “ His Excellency,” it was clear that this was 
not the first time he had been called upon to “ save the 
situation.” 

“ You would like to follow me, I daresay,” said my 
aunt with a laugh, as soon as he had left us. 

“Why, of course,” I replied, in a careless enough 
tone. “ Still, if his daughters take after him, you will 
admit that it may be better to content myself with my 
illusions.” 

“ You dear innocent boy ! Why, with a Turk, you 
never know what to expect ! ” 

Mohammed came back to tell my aunt that her visit 
had been announced, and then, preceding her with a 
dignified bow he opened for her the gates communi- 
cating with the harem. I remained behind. What 


150 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


would happen ? Although the remarkable self posses- 
sion of my eunuch had set me more at my ease, it was 
a critical moment. It was evident that there would be 
great excitement among my houris. They would feel 
at home gossiping with my aunt, as she spoke Turkish, 
and they would very likely let out everything. If one 
of them mentioned my name only, my aunt would guess 
it all. 

I waited in a state of suspense such as you can 
imagine. Finally, after half-an-hour of cruel anxieties, 
the sound of the closed door in the neighbouring room 
informed me that I was about to know my fate. My 
aunt came in, and I did not dare look her in the face. 
Fortunately I gathered from her first words that I had 
nothing more to fear ; she complimented Mohammed 
upon his good fortune as tha father of such charming 
daughters, promising often to return to spend a few 
hours with them, and then at last we said “ Good-bye ” 
to His Excellency. 

On our return, my aunt persisted in her eulogiums 
upon the young Turkish women, chaffing me about my 
long solitary period of waiting for her, separated only 
by a few walls from those pretty birds shut up in their 
golden cage. During the whole of luncheon she 
regaled my uncle with her description of these wonder- 
ful beauties. He kept looking at me from the corner 
of his eye with a furious expression. 

As soon as I could escape, I ran off to El-Nouzha to 
question Mohammed about what had happened in the 
harem. He related the whole scene to me in detail. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


151 


Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra were alone when he went 
to prepare them for my aunt’s visit. As Kondjé-Gul 
was reading in her room, she had not been informed of 
it. At the news of such a great event my houris 
screamed with joy. Trained as he had been by my 
uncle never to forget his part as the father, he had 
taken care to remind them that, in accordance with 
French usage, they must not allow it to be in the least 
suspected that they knew me. They promised to do as 
he wished them, swearing faithfully to keep all his 
commands. My aunt was then introduced. When 
they saw her, my houris rose up rather frightened, but 
she soon set them at ease with a kind word, and then 
conversation began. Needless to say, the countess’s 
toilet formed the chief topic of discourse. 

I will not try to depict for you the state of excitement 
in which I found my sultanas, nor the accounts which 
they had to give me themselves of this great event. 
Their sanguine imaginations were already occupied by 
the absolute necessity, as they deemed it, of returning 
my aunt’s call. Her kindness had very naturally 
charmed them to the point of believing that no obstacle 
could arise to hinder the continuance of friendly 
relations so well inaugurated. They went on chatter- 
ing all the evening about the incidents of this lucky 
and delightful event, taking particular pleasure in 
repeating before Kondjé-Gul who had been absent (and 
whom they confidently hoped to exclude from their new 
relations, all the kind things which the pasha’s wife had 
said to them. It was certainly a splendid revenge upon 


152 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


their rival for that evening escapade which she had 
boasted so much about. 

Poor Kondjé-Gul, disappointed as she was already at 
having had no share in this unexpected treat, listened 
without a word, her sad eyes questioning me all the 
time. I reassured her with a nod, letting the silly 
creatures prattle away in their glee, and amuse them- 
selves with sanguine projects of such a revolutionary 
character that it would have been impossible to discuss 
them. 

I began to consider for myself the best way to cut 
short these unforeseen complications. Although I was 
out of danger for the present, the veil which concealed 
the secrets of El-Nouzha was only supported by a 
thread. My aunt was not the woman to remain long 
deceived, and with her quick mind, the slightest impru- 
dent word, the slightest clue, would suffice to arouse her 
suspicions. I did not even feel sure but what my aunt, 
impelled by her curiosity, might be only too eager to 
exchange visits with His Excellency’s daughters, and 
the very thought of this was enough to make me 
tremble. 

The result of my cogitations was a resolve to take 
decisive measures for putting a stop to such extremely 
delicate and critical complications as I apprehended. It 
might, indeed, have been possible for me, while carefully 
mystifying every one, to have continued unabashed my 
oriental pursuits and avocations under the secure shelter 
of the walls of El-Nouzha. They represented, after 
all, nothing worse than one of those intrigues in the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


153 


neighbourhood with which my aunt had herself credited 
me, hut after this visit to the Kasre which had brought 
her into contact with my houris, the most ordinary 
respect for the proprieties required me to prevent such 
conjunctures from recurring. Moreover, our time at 
Férouzat was drawing to a close, for we were to spend 
the winter in Paris. I therefore determined to antici- 
pate our departure, and to remove my harem imme- 
diately. Once lost in the crowd and din of Paris, my 
secret would be safe. 

The removal is now settled. A talk with my uncle 
simplified matters. As you may imagine, I had to 
explain to him the risks entailed by such an occurrence 
as my aunt’s visit, which might lead her mind to revert 
to some incidents in the Captain’s past life which had 
so far remained unintelligible. Barhassou Pasha did 
not trouble himself very seriously about it, but he 
approved of my decision, and, contenting himself with 
a few growls at me by the way, affectionately proceeded 
to give me the assistance of his experience. It seems 
that he has — or rather I have — a house at Paris, which 
was furnished expressly for the use of His Excellency 
Mohammed Azis during my uncle’s visits there. Orders 
have already been sent to have it ready. Then plausible 
reasons for my departure have been invented; some 
pretended business of importance, which we have been 
discussing several days past before my aunt, and which 
“ might necessitate my presence in Paris.” Truly my 
uncle’s composure is wonderful ! 

As to my houris of El-Nouzha, I need hardly tell you 


154 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


that the coming journey has been the subject of a most 
extraordinary enthusiasm on their part. The idea of 
seeing Paris has quite turned their heads, and caused 
them to forget their proposed visits to Férouzat. In 
order to put all conjectures off the scent, Mohammed is 
going to start to-morrow ostensibly for Marseilles, as if 
he were returning to Turkey. The cool November 
weather having S3t in, nothing could be more natural 
than this return to his native land. The end of his 
journey, however, will be the Faubourg St. Germain, to 
which he will direct his course by a circuitous route, 
and where I shall rejoin him on my arrival at Paris 
next week. 


à 




P Avr:l vbv 

CHAPTER VII. 


The deed is done ! We managed everything without 
the slightest hitch. I write to you from Paris, from 
our house in the Rue de Yarennes ; it seems like years 
since I was last there, so many things have happened 
during the six months since I left it. All my surround- 
ings belong to a life so different from my present one, 
that it requires an exertion of thought to identify my- 
self and realise my position here. 

My harem is established in the Rue de Monsieur 
— in the former 4 ‘Parc aux Cerfs” of my uncle — a 
splendid mansion, the gardens of which reach to the 
Boulevard des Invalides. My uncle has absolutely the 
genius of an ancient Epicurean transferred by accident 
into our own century. To look at the street, with its 
cold and deserted aspect, one might imagine oneself in 


156 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


a corner of aristocratic Versailles. My mystery is safely 
hidden away there. Mohammed while at Paris is no 
longer an exiled Minister, but simply a rich Turk who 
has acquired a taste for European civilisation. His 
name is Omer-Bashid-EfFendi, a name under which he 
has already passed here twice. 

My houris are astonished with all they see, and their 
pleasure is indescribable. Of course my first care was 
to Europeanise their toilettes. In pursuance of my 
orders (for, as you may be sure, I do not appear in such 
matters) a fashionable dressmaker was sent for by Mo- 
hammed. What a business it was ! The difficulty was 
to avoid making them, with their oriental styles and 
deportments, look stiff and awkward when confined 
for the first time in the garb of our civilised torture- 
house. 

By a happy compromise between fashion and fancy, 
the clever artiste has contrived for them costumes which 
are marvels of good taste and simplicity. Nothing could 
be more successful than this metamorphosis ; their 
coiffures complete the picture, and I can hardly recog- 
nise my aimées under the bewitching little hats worn by 
our Parisian women. I assure you it is a transfigura- 
tion replete with surprises and unexpected charms. 
Attired like our women of fashion, their striking and 
original beauty, which was my admiration at El-Nouzha, 
impresses me in quite a novel manner, which I seem to 
understand better as I compare them by the side of our 
own women. Like young foreign ladies of distinction 
habited in the costumes of our civilisation, they seem 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


157 


to shed around them wherever they go a sort of exotic 
fragrance. 

Everything, of course, had to he changed now that 
they are in Paris ; they could no longer follow the 
routine of their former existence within the four walls 
of the harem. They were now at liberty to go out 
walking, and take little trips ; hut here at once appeared 
a most serious difficulty for them to overcome. How 
could they show themselves in the streets, the Champs 
Elysées, or the Bois, without their veils just like infidels? 
That was a serious question! It was impossible for 
them to make up their minds to such a shameful breach 
of Mussulman law ; and, if I must admit it, I myself ex- 
perienced a strange sort of revulsion at the thought of 
it. Yes, to this have I come ! Nevertheless, on the 
other hand, it was quite out of the question for them to 
shew themselves out of doors enshrouded in their triple 
veils, attracting wherever they went the remarks of the 
idle crowd. 

At last, after a great many hesitations, Zouhra, who 
is the bravest of them all, ventured to go out with 
me, buried in the recesses of a brougham, and pro- 
tected by a very thick kind of mantilla, which after all 
was hardly any iess impenetrable than a yashmak . Then 
they grew bolder, and impelled by curiosity, their 
coquetry getting the better of their bashful timidity, 
they took a drive one day in a landau to the Bois with 
Mohammed. I mounted on horseback and met them, 
without appearing to know them. Everything went off 
as well as could be. 


158 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


The carriage which I had purchased is severely simple 
in style, as is suitable for a foreigner of distinction. In 
his European disguise Mohammed maintains that ex- 
pression of serene dignity which so excellently suits his 
part of a father escorting his three daughters. There 
is, in short, nothing about the latter to excite attention. 
If a dark pair of eyes is sometimes distinguishable 
through the embroidered veils, the fashion, at any rate, 
permits the features to be sufficiently disguised to con- 
ceal the beauty of my sultanas from over-bold glances. 

Of course poor Kondjé-Gul, still living away from 
the others, does not take part in these frolics ; but we 
thus gain some hours of liberty. On the second day, 
while my ivives were driving in the Bois, we took our 
opportunity of going out, like true lovers, arm in arm ; 
it was most delightful ! 

We went on foot to the Boulevards. You may guess 
what raptures Kondjé-Gul w r as in each step we took. 
It was the first time she had been out with me alone, 
the first time she had felt herself free and released from 
the imprisonment of the harem. Many an inquisitive 
fellow, seeing us pass, and struck with her dignified 
manner, stopped of a sudden, and tried to distinguish 
her features through the veil. We quietly laughed at 
his disappointment. 

When we arrived at the Rue de la Paix, we went into 
some of the well-known jewellers’ shops. At the sight 
of so many marvels, you may guess how she was dazzled. 
She felt as if in a dream. We spoke in Turkish ; and 
the puzzled shop-keepers gazed in astonishment upon 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


159 


this strange display of Asiatic charms, which they had 
evidently met with for the first time. All this amused 
us ; and it is unnecessary to add that I quitted these 
haunts of temptation with a considerably lighter purse 
than when I entered them. 

We have already had several of these little sprees, 
and nothing can be more fascinating than Kondjé-Gul’s 
childish delight ; everything is new to her. Trans- 
ported, as if by magic, from her monotonous existence 
at El-Nouzha into the midst of these splendours, this 
free life, and this animated world, she feels like one 
walking in a dream ; the whole atmosphere intoxicates 
her. 

We form plans innumerable. In the first place we 
have decided that her position in regard to my wives 
shall be definitely fixed, and that she shall live hence- 
forth separated from them in another part of the house, 
where she shall have private attendants. We shall thus 
be able to see each other without any constraint, and 
she will no longer be subjected to the sneers of my silly 
houris, who have been treating her apparent disgrace 
too brutally since our arrival at Paris. My proud 
Kondjé-Gul, in the consciousness of her ascendency 
over me, would be sure to make a scene with them 
some day. 

Besides, as I have already told you, she furnishes me 
every day with a more and more engrossing subject of 
study. I should like you to understand what sweet and 
seductive labour this progressive initiation is ; I am 
watching the development of a mind which I am myself 


160 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


forming. There is no subject in regard to her, not even 
her receptive intelligence, which fails to afford me innu- 
merable surprises. Sometimes I discover original views 
and opinions of hers upon matters connected with our 
European civilisation, at the correctness of which I am 
absolutely amazed. Her progress is surprising, and 
she wishes to learn everything, knowing how much 
is required in order to become “ civilised,” as she 
calls it. 

My uncle and my aunt are in Paris. 

A month without any news, you say. And you talk 
sarcastically about my leisure, and rally me upon the 
subject of that famous system, which I used to boast 
was a simplification of life. If I might judge from 
your twaddle, you imagine me to he saddled with the 
very cares and worries from which I justly boasted that 
I was exempt. You picture me running backwards and 
forwards, and incessantly occupied with my four wives, 
so that I have not even time to write to you. 

Absurd fancy : this is my real situation. 

As soon as my four wives were settled down in their 
new home, they permitted me much more freedom than 
did the least burdensome of my former amours. No 
anxieties now, no jealousies, no fears for the future. 
They are not like some of those feminine taskmasters 
who take entire possession of you, forcing you to follow 
the adored object to the theatre, or take it to the ball, 
in order to have the pleasure of watching it flirting bare- 
shouldered with some intimate friend, who will per- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


161 


haps be its next lover. No, in my rôle of sultan my 
amours are modestly hidden from profane eyes in the 
recesses of my harem, and there I am always welcome 
whenever I choose to come. I keep the key in my pocket. 
At any hour of the day or night I can go there in my 
quality of owner without having to leave my club, my 
friends, my work, or my amusements a moment earlier 
than I desire. 

Such, then, is the “ anxious existence ” which you 
attribute to me. Find me a husband who can act in 
the same way. 

Still, as might have been foreseen, great changes 
have taken place in the internal arrangements of my 
household, where it became necessary that the Turkish 
elements should be partially replaced by others more 
adapted to the exigencies of western civilization. 

A memorable event has occurred. 

Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra went the other day to the 
opera. It is needless to say that I was there. I must 
admit that their nervousness was so extreme at making 
this bold experiment that, watching them from my own 
stall as they came in, I thought for a moment that they 
were going to run away again. 

Already in their walks they were getting into train- 
ing, and in regard to their veils exhibited a cèrtain 
amount of coquetry ; but now it became necessary to 
disregard the law of Mahomet entirely. They had 
never seen the inside of a theatre before, so you can 
imagine that when they found themselves in the box, 
with their unveiled faces exposed to the gaze of a 


162 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


multitude of infidel eyes, all the bold resolutions which 
they had made for this decisive effort were put to the 
rout. Strange as such Mohammedan bashfulness may 
seem to us, they felt, as they afterwards told me, that 
appearing there unveiled, was “just like exhibiting 
themselves naked.” 

However, as soon as this first impression was over- 
come, thanks chiefly to the exhortations of Mohammed, 
who was almost at his wits’ ends to manage them, 
they succeeded in putting on sufficient assurance to 
dissemble their very sincere dread, so that at a dis- 
tance it looked merely like excessive shyness. The 
lifting of the curtain for the first act of “ Don Juan ” 
fortunately changed the current of their emotions. 
During the entr'acte their box became the object of 
attraction to the subscribers and the frequenters of first 
night’s performances. Their indolent, oriental type 
of beauty, notwithstanding the partial disguise effected 
by their present costumes, could not fail to produce 
a sensation. 

Who, it was asked, was this old gentleman with his 
three daughters of such surprising beauty? In the 
Jockey Club’s box, where I went to hear the gossip, 
everyone was talking about them, as of some important 
political event ; Mohammed was an American mil- 
lionaire, according to some, a Kussian prince, or a 
Rajah just arrived from India, according to others. 
When I smiled in a significant manner (as I began to 
do, on purpose), they immediately surmised that I fancied 
I knew more about the matter than the rest of them, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


163 


thereupon they surrounded me, and pressed me with 
questions. 

I had already come to the conclusion that it would he 
better to calm their minds, and thus avoid all incon- 
venient enquiries. I therefore gave them an account, 
which after all was not far from the truth, namely, that 
Omer-Bashid-Effendi was a rich Turk, “ whose acquaint- 
ance I had the honour of making at Damascus, and 
who had come to stay at Paris with his family I 
thus insured myself against any suspicion of mystery 
arising in connection with my visits to the house in the 
Bue de Monsieur, in the event of these coming to light 
by any chance. 

Our relations, you will see, were thus defined once 
for all. This new life is nothing but a succession of 
delights to my aimées ; and I have really now attained 
the ideal in the way of harems, through the absence of 
that monotony which is the inevitable result of the 
system of rigid seclusion. Under the influence of our 
civilized surroundings, the ideas of my houris are 
undergoing a gradual transformation. They have 
French lady’s maids, and their study of our refinements 
of fashion has opened out quite a new world of coquettish 
charms to them. My “ little animals ” have grown into 
women : this single word will convey to you the whole 
delicious significance of this story of mine, the secret 
of which you alone in the whole world possess. 

As we had decided, Kondjé-Gul has been separated 
from her over-jealous companions. Hadidjé, Zouhra, and 
Nazli have taken this measure to be a confirmation of 


164 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


her disgrace, and knowing that she lives in a sequestered 
corner of the house, they fancy their triumph more 
assumed than ever. I can place implicit confidence in 
the discretion of my servants — who wait on us like 
mutes in a seraglio: consequently Kondjé-Gul and I 
are as free as possible. When I want to go out with 
her, I pay a short visit to my wives, and after a quarter 
of an hour’s talk, leave them and go off in my carriage, 
in the recesses of which my darling reclines. Now you 
see what a simple device it is and how ingenious ; still 
it involves a certain amount of constraint for me, and 
an isolation hard to endure for Kondjé-Gul. She reads 
and devours everything that I bring her in the way of 
books ; but the days are long, and Mohammed, with his 
time taken up by the others, cannot accompany her 
out of doors. I therefore conceived the idea of 
taking her away from the harem altogether, and thus 
relieving her of the contemptuous insults which my 
other silly women still find opportunities of inflicting 
upon her. The difficulty was to procure a chaperon for 
her, some kind of suitable and reliable duenna whom I 
could leave with her in a separate establishment ; this 
duenna has been found. 

The other day Kondjé-Gul and I were talking together 
about a little house which I had discovered in the 
upper part of the Champs Elysées, and of an English 
governess, who seemed to me to possess the right qualifi- 
cations for a pretended mother : 

“ If you like,” said Kondjé-Gul, “ I can tell you a 
much simpler arrangement.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


165 


“Well?” I replied. 

“ Instead of this governess whom I don’t know, I 
would much rather have my mother. I should be so 
happy at seeing her again ! ” 

“ Your mother ?” I exclaimed with surprise ; “ do 
you know where she is then ? ” 

“ Oh, yes ! for I often write to her.” 

She then told me all her past history, which I had 
never before thought of asking her, believing that she 
had been left alone in the world. It afforded me a 
complete revelation of those Turkish customs which 
seem so strange to us. Kondjé-Gul’s mother, as I 
have told you, was a Circassian, who came to Constan- 
tinople to enter the service of a cadine of the Sultan. 
Kondjé-Gul being a very pretty child, her mother had, 
in her ambitious fancy, anticipated from her beauty a 
brilliant career for her. In order to realise this expec- 
tation, she left her at twelve years old with a family 
who were instructed to bring her up better than she 
could have done herself, until Kondjé-Gul was old 
enough to be sought after as a cadine or a wife. 

This hope on the part of her mother was accomplished, 
as you know, for the girl was purchased for a good round 
sum by Mohammed. Thus poor Kondjé-Gul fulfilled 
her destiny. Then she related to me how her mother, 
several years ago, had found a better situation for herself 
with a French consul at Smyrna, and had learnt French 
there. 

Kondjé-Gul’s idea was a happy one, and I was inclined 
to entertain it. I consented to her writing to Smyrna, 


166 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


and some days later she received an answer to the effect 
that in about a couple of months her mother would be 
able to join her providing the requisite means were sent 
her for this purpose. I have a house in view where 
they can live together. It is a little house belonging to 
Count de Téral, who is on his way hack to Lisbon : one 
might really fancy he had got it ready on purpose 
for me. 

What have you to say to this, you profound moralist ? 




CHAPTER VIII. 

Again you complain of my silence, in a letter written 
with the object of overwhelming me with abuse ; and 
you mix up sarcasms (through which your childish 
curiosity is very transparent) with philosophical remarks 
which reveal the snobbishness of your nature. In fact, 
from the tone of your letters, one might imagine I was 
threatened by strange complications, and that you were 
hoping every morning to read the account of some 
catastrophe. For once in a way your longing for an 
important event will not be disappointed, for I have a 
weighty piece of news for you. As it belongs to the 
most strictly moral order of events, you may listen 
without any anxiety. 

As you are aware, my aunt and uncle came to Paris 


168 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


a fortnight ago, and will stay here all the winter. The 
house in the Rue de Varennes has resumed its gay 
honours; we give receptions, dinners, and everything 
else that you are familiar with, but embellished this 
time by the presence of the charming Countess of 
Monteclaro, who supplies that lively element of family 
life which we rather missed formerly. My aunt has 
discovered here a young cousin of hers, Count Daniel 
Kiusko, a capital fellow, whom I have quite made 
friends with. 

Having given you these details, I will now proceed 
with my story. 

The other morning, after breakfast, as I was about 
to return to my room (for whatever you may believe, I 
am working hard just now), my uncle stopped me, and 
without any further preliminaries began : 

“ By the way, André, I expect Madame Saulnier and 
my god-daughter Anna Campbell, your betrothed, to 
dinner thia evening. I should not mind letting you 
make her acquaintance. If you happen to be curious 
to see her, don’t make any engagements at the club, 
and come home punctually.” 

“ Really ! ” exclaimed my aunt with a laugh, and 
without giving me time to answer : “ from the way 
you put it, one might think you were talking of 
some doll that you intended to offer André for his 
birthday ! ” 

“ What the deuce do you mean by that, my dear ? 99 
asked the captain in his imperturbable way. 

“ I mean,” said my aunt, “ that this little acquaint- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


169 


ance which you wish they should make with each other 
before you marry them, seems to me a very necessary 
preliminary. 

“ Pooh ! They’ve still a good year before them ! 
Besides, this little matter has nothing to do with 
romance.” Then turning to me he continued ; “ Well, 
if that suits you for to-day, I have given you notice.” 

“ Capital ! ” added my aunt. “ Well, André ! How 
does it suit you ? ” 

“ Why, aunt,” I said, laughing in my turn at their 
little dispute ; “ I think my uncle may rely equally with 
you upon the pleasure it will give me.” 

“ All right, that’s settled ! ” continued my aunt in 
an inimitable tone of hilarity; “ at seven o’clock 
punctually, my dear nephew, you will come and fall 
in love.” 

My uncle took no more notice of this last ironical 
shaft than of the rest, but occupied himself with select- 
ing a cigar, remarking that what he had were too dry. 
My aunt availed herself of the opportunity of continuing 
her conversation with me. 

“ Between you and me,” she said, “I may tell you 
that you are not much to be pitied, for she is a charming 
girl, and you would really lose a good deal by not 
making her acquaintance.” 

“I was only waiting for my uncle to decide the 
question.” 

“ You must at any rate be grateful to him for letting 
you meet by chance before your wedding-day,” she 
continued. 


170 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Oh, dear ! one might think I wanted to marry them 
at a minute’s notice ! ” said my uncle at these words. 
“Just like a woman’s exaggerations! Perhaps you 
would have liked me to have introduced her to him 
before my last voyage, when she was a lass of fourteen, 
thin, awkward, and gawkish, as you all are at that 
age.” 

“ Thanks ; why don’t you say monkeys while you are 
about it ? ” replied my aunt with a curtsey. 

But my uncle intended to make a speech of it, and 
continued : 

“ Who would have left in his mind the disagreeable 
recollection of a small, flat, angular creature, with arms 
like flutes, and hands and feet as long as that ! ” 

“ Poor little creature ! I shudder at the thought of 
it! However, in your ineffable wisdom, you have 
fattened her up with mystery.” 

“ Ta, ta, ta ! ” continued my uncle ; “ I have made a 
fine, healthy, solid young woman of her, who promises 
to make just the right sort of wife for André ! And I 
maintain, in spite of your ideas on the subject, that I 
have done well to bring them up at a distance from 
each other, in order to preserve the freshness of their 
feelings, and avoid the necessity of that awkward and 
painful transformation of the affections which is so 
difficult for a couple who have grown up together and 
eaten their bread and butter together as brats in the 
nursery. To-day they will find each other just as 
they ought to before they become husband and wife. 
All the rest of the business must be left to them. If 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


171 


they like each other very much they will make a love- 
match, if not, a mariage de raison , which is just as 
good.” 

My uncle having concluded thus, it only remained for 
me to signify my compliance with his wishes. As you 
may well understand, I awaited with impatience the 
hour for this first interview, and I was in the drawing- 
room that evening some time before my fiancées arrival. 
My aunt was in the heaven of delight, just like every 
woman looking forward to a romantic incident, and she 
did not fail to remark my eagerness. As to the captain» 
like a being superior to such sentimental trifles, he was 
quietly reading his paper. He was just commencing a 
political discussion when the servant opened the folding 
doors and announced : 

“ Madame Saulnier and Mademoiselle Campbell.” 

To tell the truth, I must admit that I felt somewhat 
nervous. A lady of about forty years old came in, 
accompanied by a young person in a regulation convent 
dress. I stood up, while my uncle went forward to meet 
his god-daughter, and kissed her affectionately on the 
forehead. Then he led me to her by the hand, in a 
dignified and ceremonious manner, and said without 
more ado : 

“ Anna, this is André ! André, this is Anna! Kiss 
each other ! ” 

This form of introduction, with its laconic precision, 
had at least the advantage that it left no uncertainty 
between us, and at once indicated to us our proper 
course of procedure. Too well trained to my uncle’s 


172 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


habits, I did not hesitate a moment, but kissed my 
betrothed ; after which I said, “ How do you do ? ” 
which, of course, gave me a nice opportunity of looking 
at her. 

Anna Campbell is at the present time just seventeen. 
She is neither short nor tall, thin nor stout — although 
the great blue ribbon which she wears over her neck, 
with a cross suspended from it, already sets off the 
plump outlines of her bosom. She is neither fair nor 
dark ; her chin is round, her face oval, her nose, mouth, 
and forehead are all medium- sized, and she has rather 
pretty blue eyes. Generally speaking, she is more 
pleasant-looking than handsome, and her features on 
the whole suggest a very gentle disposition united with 
good health. My uncle took care to impress upon me 
that she will continue to develop, since her feet and 
hands are still large for her age, and promise a hand- 
some completion of her growth. 

In short, my lot is far from a disagreeable one — quite 
the contrary. As my uncle expresses it, “All the 
symptoms are good.” 

Our dinner was a very lively one. Anna Campbell, 
although rather subdued in my presence, did not show 
any embarrassment. Nothing seemed to be new to her ; 
her manners and deportment, and everything about her, 
revealed the familiar assurance of a child of the family 
who had come to take a holiday there, and felt herself 
as much at home as I did. I perceived that she knew 
the house as well as if she had been brought up in it, 
and I learnt that during the time when I was at college 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


178 


she and Madame Saulnier had really lived there for 
three years. 

The result of all this was that Anna Campbell exhibited 
a pleasant sort of familiarity with my aunt and uncle 
which I did not at all expect to see. Brought up away 
from each other, and without any previous acquaintance, 
we were now meeting for the first time at this common 
centre of our affections, which, unknown to us, had 
united us since our childhood. This was both original 
and sweet to think of. 

Once, when my uncle asked for the pickles, Anna 
said : 

“ They are near André.” 

When the meal was over we left the dining-room. 
Following a Russian fashion which my aunt had intro- 
duced among us, when we entered the drawing-room, I 
pressed her hand to my lips, while she kissed me on 
the forehead. Anna did the same ; then, without even 
appearing to think what she was doing, she quietly 
held up her two cheeks for me to kiss, and afterwards 
offered them to her god-father. She then ran to the 
piano, and sat down to it, while we were taking our 
coffee. 

“ Well, what do you think of her ? ” my uncle asked 
me. 

“ She is very nice,” I replied. 

“ Yes, isn’t she ? Just the thing for you, my boy, ” 
he observed, as he stirred his cup, with the tranquillity 
of a pure conscience. “Go and talk with her,” he 
continued; “you will find she is not stupid.” 


174 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


I went to sit down by Anna. 

“ Come, play the bass ! ” she said, moving aside to 
make room for me, as if we had often played in duet 
together before. 

When the piece was finished, we talked about her 
convent, her friends, and the Mother Superior, Sainte 
Lucie, whom she was much attached to ; and she spoke 
about everything in a confident tone of familiarity, which 
showed me that she had often talked of me, and had 
been used to think of me as an absent brother. The 
understanding is that, on account of her youth, our 
betrothal is to remain a family secret, which will only 
be made public when the right time arrives. 

The evening concluded without any other special 
incident. At ten o’clock Anna went home to her con- 
vent. As she was putting her things on, she held out 
her hand to me, and said : 

“ Good-bye, André ! ” 

“ Good-bye, Anna !” I replied ; and then my uncle 
took me away with him to the club, where he sat down 
to his party at whist. 

While I am on the subject of my uncle, I must tell 
you about an adventure which he has just had. He is 
dead , as you are aware, for I have inherited his pro- 
perty. This privilege he will not give up, because the 
registration fees have been paid . The result of this 
peculiar situation is that he is under certain legal inca- 
pacities, which, without troubling him more seriously, 
do nevertheless cause him some annoyance. Three 
months ago at Férouzat, he had to renew his gun-license, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


175 


which he had taken out seven years before ; but as his 
decease had been formally entered at the prefecture, 
they would not accept this document, hearing the signa- 
ture of a defunct person. As you may imagine, he did 
very well without it, and began to shoot as if nothing 
had happened ! 

The other morning, however, it chanced, as my uncle 
was passing our banker’s, that he wanted to draw 
twenty thousand francs for his pocket-money. The 
cashier, who had known him years ago, was very much 
surprised to see him in the flesh, but represented to 
him that it was now quite impossible for him to open an 
account in his name, as he was legally dead and buried. 
My uncle, like a law-abiding man, admitted the justice 
of this observation, and I had to intervene in order to 
arrange the matter for him. He took no further notice 
of it ; only as he never does anything by halves, he had 
his visiting cards printed with “ The late Barbassou ” 
on them ; and this was the way he signed himself at 
our banker’s, by which means he pretended that he 
conformed with all requirements. 

“ You see how simple the whole thing is,” he said 
to me. 

My amours with Kondjé-Gul have certainly taken a 
very remarkable turn. The other day I took her to 
Versailles for an educational and historical excursion ; 
she is continuing her course of civilization, you know. 
After visiting the palace and the museum, we went into 
the park. She was in the best of spirits, still excited 


176 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


with the fresh air and freedom which she was enjoying 
like an escaped prisoner from the harem, and was ask- 
ing me questions about everything with that charming 
simplicity of hers which delights me so much, when we 
arrived in front of Diana’s Bath, where we found a group 
of three young women most brilliantly dressed, two of 
whom, as I saw at the first glance, were old acquaint- 
ances of mine, very well known in the gay world. Young 

Lord B accompanied them, and they all recognised 

me ; but Lord B , with the well-bred tact of a man 

of the world, seeing the company I was in, only nodded 
slightly to me. With like discretion, as is usual on 
such occasions, the women made no movement of recog- 
nition ; yet they could not help — being struck no doubt 
with the remarkable beauty of my companion — evincing 
such evident curiosity, that Kondjé-Gul observed it. 
I, of course, passed without appearing to notice them. 
Kondjé-Gul and I then took a turn up the walk, while 
I expounded the mythology of the bath to her, and then 
we went out. 

“ Who are those ladies ? ” she asked me as soon as 
we were at a good distance from them ; “ they know 
you, I could see.” 

“ Oh, yes,” I replied in an indifferent tone, “ I have 
met them several times.” 

“ And the young man who was with them also looked 
at you as if he was one of your friends ; why did not 
you speak to him ? ” 

“ For discretion’s sake, because you were with me, 
and he was walking with them” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 177 

“ Ah! I understand,” she said; “no doubt they are 
the women of his harem ? ” 

“ Just so,” I answered quite coolly, “ and, as I have 
often told you, according to our customs, the harem is 
always ” 

I was trying to think of the right word, when she 
burst out laughing quite loud. 

“ What are you laughing at, you silly thing ?” I 
asked. 

“ I am laughing at all those stories about your 
harems which you still make up for me just as you used 
to do for that idiot Hadidjé. I listen to them all, 
because, — whatever does it matter to me now that I love 
you ! I prefer the happiness of remaining your slave to 
that of these women, who have no doubt been your 
mistresses, and whom you don’t even condescend to 
notice when you meet them.” 

“ What ?” I exclaimed in astonishment ; “ have you 
got to know so much already, you little humbug, and 
have concealed it from me?” 

“ After all you have given me to read to form my 
mind according to your ideas, surely it was natural that 
I should some day discover the truth ! I only waited 
for an opportunity of confirming my new knowledge,” 
she continued with a smile. “ There are still a lot of 
things in your country which I cannot understand. 
But you will teach me them now, won’t you?” she 
added in a coaxing tone. 

“ Oh, you young flirt ! It seems to me you know 
everything already ! ” 


178 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Why, yes, I feel I know that, for all you may say, 
I am still no more than a curious toy in your eyes — a 
strange creature, like some rare bird that you are rather 
fond of, perhaps, for her pretty plumage.’ * 

“ Ah ! you’re right upon the last point at any rate ! ” 
I replied with a laugh. 

“ Yes, sir ! ” she continued in a satisfied tone of 
pride, “ I know that I am handsome ! — Now don’t laugh 
at me,” she added with a charming reproachful look ; 
“ what I have to say is quite serious, for it comes from 
my heart. I was born for a different life, for different 
sentiments to yours, and I know that I possess none 
of those qualities which they say make the women of 
your country so attractive. Their ideas and associations 
are very different to mine, which you call the supersti- 
tions of a young barbarian, and which I want to forget 
in order to learn to understand you and to have no 
rivals.” 

“ Are you quite sure that you would not lose by the 
change ?” 

“ Thank you,” said Kondjé-Gul ; “ that’s what I call 
a compliment.” 

“ The fact is,” I replied, “ the very thing I like about 
you is that you do not in any way resemble the women 
whom we have just met.” 

“ Oh ! ” she said, with an indescribable gesture of 
pride, “it’s not those women I envy ! But I see others 
whom I would like to resemble — in their manners and 
tone, of course. If you’re a nice fellow, do you know 
what you will do for me?” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


179 


“ What ? ” 

“It’s a dream, a scheme which I have been con- 
tinually thinking over. You won’t laugh at me, will 
you ? ” 

“ No. Let’s hear your grand scheme.” 

“ Well, then, if you would like to make me very 
happy, place me for a few months in one of those con- 
vents where your young ladies are educated. You.would 
come and see me every day, so that I should not be too 
dull away from you.” 

“ That’s the queerest idea I have ever heard from you ; 
fancy a Mahommedan girl at a convent !” I said, with 
a laugh. 

I took a great deal of trouble in explaining to her 
what a foolish project this was ; but the result of my 
attempts at demonstrating the serious obstacles which 
such ambitious aspirations would encounter, was that in 
the end I myself entered into her views. The experi- 
ment might indeed prove a most instructive one. With 
Kondjé-Gul’s character, there was an extremely interest- 
ing psychological experiment before me. I had found 
her to be endowed with marvellous natural qualities. 
With her ardour and enthusiasm, what would be the 
effect upon her simple imagination of a sudden transition 
from the ideas of the harem to the subtle refinements 
of our own society ? 

Certainly, I was obliged to admit that such a trial 
was not without its dangers ; but then, was not Kondjé- 
Gul already aware that the marital yoke which my 
houris still believed in was only imaginary? And 


180 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


was it not better, such being the case, for me to com- 
plete this work of regeneration, the fruits of which I 
should in the end reap for myself ? 

So I submitted to Kondje-Gul’s wishes, and as soon 
as we returned to Paris this important matter was 
settled. 

The next day I began to look for the means of 
carrying it into execution, a search which was attended, 
however, with a good many difficulties. 




My uncle is going to send for another of my aunts 
to come to Paris. 


Well ! what of that ? — My uncle is a Mussulman, 
you know ; and, being a man of principle, his duties 
are more onerous than yours, that’s all ! 

My services were required to take a little house at 
Passy, where she is to live. I wonder whether it is 
my aunt Gretchen, my aunt Euphrosine, or my aunt 
Cora ? He has not given me the slightest hint on this 
point. 

While awaiting this addition to our family, Bar- 
bassou-Pasha pursues his eccentric career in a manner 
that beats description. This visit to Paris has brought 
out more than ever the quaint independence of his 
character. One is reminded of a man who stands on 


182 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


a bridge watching the river flow by, but now and then 
takes a header into it to cool himself. The other day 
at the club, he lost sixty-three thousand francs to me 
at baccarat, just for a little distraction. The even- 
ing after, he was entertaining at our house his late 
Lieutenant Babassu, whom he always speaks of as 
il the cause of his death,” and who has come here upon 
some business. He won eleven francs from him at 
piquet, playing for a franc the hundred points. For 
the moment I felt quite alarmed for the poor victim ! 
But my mind was soon set at ease ; for Babassu, who 
is used to his captain’s play, knows how to cheat as 
cleverly as his master. Their losses soon balanced each 
other. 

Putting aside little dissipations of this kind, I should 
add that “ the late Barbassou ** is really very steady- 
going for a man of his temperament. He takes every- 
thing which comes in the routine of our fashionable life 
so naturally, that nobody would imagine he had spent 
several years at the hulks in Turkey. 

My aunt Eudoxia, of whom he stands in wholesome 
awe, and who keeps him in check, forces him to cultivate 
the vanities of this world. He escorts her to balls and 
fêtes with all that ceremony with which you are familiar ; 
and quitting the lofty regions of his own philosophical 
existence, without however permitting anything to dis- 
turb his self-possession, he goes forth into the gay 
and hurried throngs of Paris with as little concern as 
he would into any village street. In short, he is in 
exquisite form, and — but for the legal disabilities which 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


183 


deprive him of his rights of citizenship — you would find 
him still exactly what he was when you knew him five 
years ago. 

However, the other day he received a little shock in 
connection with a very simple incident, which might 
have been perfectly anticipated. 

We were in my aunt’s box at the Opera. The pasha, 
seated by her side, was listening to a singer who was 
rather more buxom than elegant; and he appeared to 
he calculating what her nett weight would be, after 
making deduction for her queen’s crown and robes of 
state. After a minute or so, he seemed to have solved 
this equation and lost all further interest in the problem, 
for he began to examine the audience. All of a sudden 
he shouted out, quite forgetting himself, in his Pro- 
vençal brogue : 

“ Té ! What’s that I see ? ” 

“ Hush ! ” said my aunt, nudging him with her elbow, 
without turning round. 

“ But, bagasse ! it’s Mohammed ! ” he added, in a 
lower tone. 

It was indeed Mohammed, who attracted some atten- 
tion as he walked with my houris into their famous box. 

“Well, you’re right,” replied my aunt. “I recog- 
nise his charming daughters.” 

You may be sure my uncle put up his glasses. When 
all my people were settled down in their box, he 
surveyed them carefully, interrupting his examination 
occasionally in order to take a furtive scowl at me. But 
my aunt’s presence kept him quiet. His composure was 


184 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


perfect for that matter, except that he seemed extremely 
puzzled. There were only three of them — that evidently 
was not the right number for him. As for me, prudence 
dictated that I should get out of the way as quickly as pos- 
sible, leaving him to make what observations he pleased. 

As I was slipping away quietly to the hack of the box, 
I heard my aunt saying : 

“ Are you going to speak to him ? ” 

“ No ; we have had a quarrel ! ” he growled, looking 
again for me at his side. 

But slam went the door, and I was out in the passage, 
whence I escaped to the hack of the scenes and to the 
green-room. There he joined me during the entr’acte . 
But, as you are aware, “ Turks do not discuss harem 
matters.” All I could see clearly was that he was in a 
fury with me. 

To turn, however, to other things, my perseverance 
on behalf of Kondjé-Gul is at last rewarded with com- 
plete success. 

After I had spent a whole week in looking about, I 
found* in the Beaujon district, an institution for young 
ladies presided over by a Madame Montier, a kind 
woman of polished manners. She had suffered a reverse 
of fortune, which seems to have prepared her for the 
express purpose of civilizing my Kondjé-Gul. There 
are never more than three or four hoarders in the house : 
at the present moment two American girls, daughters 
of a commodore who is on a mission to the King of 
Siam, are finishing their education there. Nothing 
could suit my purpose better. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


185 


When the time arrived, however, for putting my plan 
into execution, I must confess that I could not help 
feeling considerable embarrassment. I could certainly 
have introduced Kondjé-Gul as a young foreign lady, 
prematurely widowed, who was anxious to qualify her- 
self for French society ; but I soon found that this 
would create an unnecessary complication. Decidedly 
the better course would be for Mahommed to introduce 
her either as his ward or his daughter. Under any 
circumstances it was desirable that I should explain to 
her the necessity of extreme prudence. 

At last, one evening, when I thought she was about 
to revert to this great object of her ambition, I started 
the subject myself. 

“I am going to announce an important piece of 
news,” I said to her ; “I have found a convent for you 
where you can stay pending your mother’s arrival.” 

“ Really ! ” she exclaimed, kissing me. “ Oh, my 
dear André, how kind you are ! ” 

“Yes; but I must warn you. This realisation of 
your dream is only possible at the cost of sacrifices, 
which will perhaps be hard for you to make.” 

“ What sacrifices ? Tell me, quick ! ” 

“ First, assiduous work, and next, the sacrifice of your 
liberty ; for during the whole time you remain at this 
establishment, you wont be able to leave the place.” 

“ What does that matter ? ” she exclaimed, “ pro- 
vided I can see you every day ! ” 

But that’s exactly what will be impossible.” 

“ Why ?” she asked, in her simplicity. 


186 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“Because, according to our customs, bachelors are 
never admitted into young ladies’ schools,” I replied, 
with a laugh. 

“ But as I belong to you,” she continued, with an 
astonished look, “they will not be surprised at your 
coming ; are not you my master ? ” 

“ This reason, my dear, although a convincing one 
for you, would constitute the greatest obstacle ; for they 
must not be allowed on any account to suspect that you 
are my wife. Mohammed alone will introduce you either 
as his daughter or as a young lady under his charge, 
and, for conventional reasons, which you will understand 
later on, this period of study will be a period of separa- 
tion for us.” 

I then let her know the whole truth about certain of 
our social conventionalities, concerning which she was 
still in ignorance. When she learned that our laws 
declared her free, and the equal of any Frenchwoman, 
and that I had no longer any rights over her, she looked 
inexpressibly pained. 

“ Good heavens ! ” she exclaimed, throwing herself 
into my arms, “what do you mean? Am I free, and 
my own mistress, and not yours for ever ? ” 

“ You are mine, because I love you,” I said to her 
very quickly, seeing her agitation ; “ and so long as you 
do not ioant to leave me — ” 

“Leave you ! But what would become of me, then, 
without you ? ” 

And her eyes filled with tears. 

“What a foolish girl you are!” I replied, quite 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


187 


touched at her evident pain ; “you are exaggerating the 
significance of my words : your liberty will make no 
difference in our relations.” 

“ Why did you tell me this cruel truth, then ? I was 
so happy in the belief that I was your slave, and in 
obeying and loving you at the same time.” 

“ Still it was necessary for me to tell you, as you wish 
to learn our ideas and customs. Your ignorance was a 
source of danger, for even your questions might lead to 
the betrayal of relations which must remain a mystery 
for the rest of the world, and, above all, in the * pension/ 
where you are about to live with companions.” 

I had some difficulty in consoling her for this terrible 
discovery that our laws do not recognise slavery. Never- 
theless, her desire for further instruction remained very 
keen. 

Finally, two days afterwards, Mademoiselle Kondjé- 
Gul entered Madame Montier’s institution, having been 
presented by her guardian, the worthy Omer-Rashid- 
Effendi, who made all the necessary arrangements 
with the majestic dignity which he displays on every 
occasion. 

Although I have kept myself carefully in the back- 
ground in all this matter, I watch its progress just the 
same, and superintend everything. Every evening 
Kondjé-Gul writes to her guardian, and I get her letters 
at once : I can assure you they constitute quite an 
interesting romance. For a whole week Kondjé-Gul, 
who had been rather overawed at first and astonished 
at all her new surroundings, seemed to live like one 


188 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


dazed. She would not trust herself to speak, fearing to 
appear uncultivated ; but she observed, and the results 
of her observations were most curious. After that I 
perceived that she was gradually trying her wings ; for 
when she had been initiated a few days into her new 
life, she soon abandoned her reserve, and has by this 
time passed the first step in her emancipation. Her 
simplicity of character, and her quaint Oriental manners, 
have secured her some very cordial friendships ; and 
nothing can be more charming than the accounts she 
gives me of her devotion for her friends, Maud and 
Suzannah Montague, who are the realisation of perfec- 
tion in her eyes. 

Of course Kondjé-Gul’s educational programme, as 
fixed by me, is confined within very modest limits. 
It consists of music, history, and a slight and general 
acquaintance with literature. But above all she is 
expected to acquire that indispensable familiarity with 
our ideas, and those feminine graces and refinements 
which can only be learnt by contact with women and 
girls brought up in good society. A few months at 
Madame Montier’s will be sufficient for this purpose, 
and the cultivation of her mind can be completed later 
on by private lessons. 

My harem in the Faubourg St. Germain retains its 
Oriental aspect ; it is a corner of the world described in 
the “ Arabian Nights,” where I indulge from time to 
time, in the midst of Paris, in the distractions of a 
vizier of Samarcand or Bagdad. There, when the 
shutters are closed, in my gynceceum (or women’s apart- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


189 


ment), illuminated by lamps which shed a soft lustre 
upon us, while the bluish-grey smoke from my narguilé 
perfumes the atmosphere, my houris lull me to sleep to 
the music of their taraboucks. 

With all this I am not quite so satisfied, as I would 
have liked to describe myself, with certain incidents 
which have occurred in connection with my harem. 
Certainly, they are all the natural consequences of our 
life in Paris ; for I don’t suppose you imagine that I 
had not foreseen the psychological effect which entirely 
new ideas would unavoidably produce upon the pro- 
foundly ignorant minds of my houris. Besides, a pro- 
gressive and judicious emancipation from their previous 
restraints formed part of my programme for them. 
But the introduction into the harem of certain high- 
class lady’s-maids, indispensable for initiating my little 
animals into the subtle mysteries of Parisian toilets, has 
of necessity led to their making a number of discoveries, 
which have contributed in a remarkable degree to their 
civilization : — hardly, however, in those elements which 
I could have most desired. They have all of them got 
to know a great deal more than was necessary for them 
about those famous “ customs of our harems in France,’* 
the principles of which I had endeavoured to teach them. 
Thus I even noticed the other day that I set Zouhra 
and Nazli laughing when I reminded them of some 
point of etiquette. Although they are still imbued with 
the good principles of their native education, it is evident 
they are being corrupted by the poison of Liberalism. 
This I am convinced of by certain airs of assurance 


190 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


which they have put on, by their coquetries, and by 
novel and unexpected caprices which they now display. 

The “ Rights of Woman ” have clearly been divulged 
to them. They talk of walking out by themselves, of 
visiting the popular theatres and music-halls, and even 
Mabille, the illuminations of which struck their fancy 
very much the other night, as we were passing the 
Avenue Montaigne in the carriage, on our way back from 
the Bois. One little instance will illustrate the situa- 
tion for you. Mohammed’s rank and titles have ceased 
to impress them with any respect ; and the day before 
yesterday Zouhra actually had the impudence to say 
“ Chut !” to him. 

This expression will clearly indicate to you an asto- 
nishing progress in the refinements of our language ; 
but it will also, no doubt, afford you a text upon which 
to declaim in that cruelly sarcastic style which your 
Philistine genius revels in. I will, therefore, anticipate 
you by replying : 

In the first place, that Mohammed does not under- 
stand French — a fact which considerably diminishes the 
gravity of Zouhra’s disrespect ; 

In the second, that I never doubted but what their 
stay in Paris w r ould open my houris’ minds to new ideas ; 

And in the third, that neither did I doubt but what 
they would acquire, in consequence, more precise notions 
upon the extent of their rights. 

Woman, like any other animal susceptible of educa- 
tion, possesses the most subtle faculties of imitation. 
Now if, her weak nature being overcome by those impulses 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


191 


towards mischief and malice with which she is peculiarly 
endowed, she is tempted to commit trivial derelictions 
of conduct — derelictions which, after all, are but faults 
of discernment — is there any reason why we should 
make such a fuss about it ? 

In the midst of the supremely refined existence which 
my sultanas lead, I seem to discover in these innocent 
little vagaries a frank simplicity of character, more 
nearly related to purity of conscience than are the 
accomplished manners of our most polished coquettes. 

While on this subject I must reply to the sarcasms 
contained in your last letter. 

Let me tell you first of all that I have never laid 
claim to the character of a superior being inaccessible 
to human vanities, as you are trying to make out. I 
am quite willing to admit with you that I, like any 
other man, am possessed by “the stupid satisfaction 
which every man experiences in watching the success 
of the woman he loves.” It is quite possible that the 
effect produced by my odalisques upon the idle crowd 
(or as you term it la haute badauderie) of Paris, has 
suddenly invested them with new charms in my eyes. 
You say that the mystery with which they are en- 
shrouded, and the silly conjectures which I hear people 
make about them as they pass by, have excited me and 
turned my head like that of a simpleton. 

Well, I suppose you will hardly expect me to 
account for the human weakness which leads us to 
measure our own happiness by the degree of envy which 
it excites in others? Besides, what is the good of 


192 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


sifting my passion or testing my love in a crucible in 
order to estimate its value ? 

In the midst of my pagan indulgences, you ask me 
if I really love, in the usual sense of that word. This 
very reasonable question was at any rate worth asking, 
however simple it may seem. It is concerned with the 
great problem in psychology which I undertook to solve, 
namely, as to which predominates in love, the heart or 
the senses, and whether true love is possible when one 
loves four women at the same time ? 

It is clear that in the restricted limits of our ideas, and 
under the yoke of our customs and prejudices, we can 
only conceive of passion as concentrated upon a single 
object. Too far removed from our primitive origin and 
from the patriarchal age, and moulded by the influences 
of more refined customs, our minds have been stimulated 
to the contemplation of a certain recognized ideal. Still, 
as moralists and philosophers, we must admit that among 
Orientals there is, doubtless, another conception and 
another ideal of love, the character of which we cannot 
grasp. It is only by divesting ourselves of our moral 
clogs, or the restraints of our social conventionalities, 
that we can attain to the understanding of this lofty 
psychological problem. Indeed, no one has ever been 
able to say what love consists in. “ Attraction of two 
hearts,” say some, and “ mutual exchange of fancies ; ” 
but these are nothing but words depending upon the 
particular instance in which they are employed. 

The truth is that we are full of inconsistencies in all 
our definitions. From a purely sentimental point of 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


193 


view, we start by laying down, as an absolute axiom, 
that the human heart can only embrace one object of 
love, and that man can only fall truly in love once in 
his life. Yet if we abstract from love the distinct 
element which our senses contribute to it, it is seen to 
consist of nothing but a form of affection — an expansion 
of the soul analogous to friendship and to paternal 
or filial love, sentiments equally powerful, but which 
we recognize the duty of distributing between several 
objects. 

Whence arises this strange contradiction ? 

Do not declare that it is a paradox, for our ideas on 
the subject proceed entirely from our education and from 
the influence of custom upon our minds. If we had 
been bred on the banks of the Ganges, of the Nile, or 
of the Hellespont, our school of aesthetics would have 
been different. The most romantic Turkish or Persian 
poet could not understand the vain subtleties of our 
emotions. Since his laws permit him several wives, it 
is his duty to love them all, and his heart rises to the 
occasion. Do you mean to tell me that his is a different 
love to ours ? Upon what grounds ? What do you know 
about it ? Cannot you understand the charms of the 
obligation he is under to protect them all, in this equal 
distribution of his affections ? It comes to this, in fact, 
that our ideas on the point are simply and always a 
question of latitude and of climate. We love like poor 
helpless creatures of circumstances. 

It is these very psychological considerations which 
form the basis of the social argument which I intend to 


194 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


demonstrate in the important work which I am preparing 
for the Academy of Science, and which I introduce as 
follows : — 

“ Revered Mother, 

“ Among the learned and celebrated members of whom 
your illustrious Society so justly boasts, the most com- 
petent have already determined to their satisfaction the 
general principles which should regulate the study of 
biology. It would be the height of presumption on my 
part to set up my unworthy opinion against theirs, were 
it not for the fact that I can adduce, as a justification 
for doing so, certain data in my own possession which 
very few, probably, of these highly-respected authorities 
could have procured under such favourable conditions as 
I have been enabled to do. As the nephew of a Pasha 
I have, &c.” 

As you perceive, this modest preface is well calculated 
to soothe the delicate susceptibilities of the Institute. 

The civilization of my Kondjé-Gul has become quite 
the most delightful subject of study for me. It presents 
a complete romance in itself, and the denial which I have 
imposed upon myself adds a certain charm to it. I must 
tell you that her stay with Madame Montier has gradually 
produced a number of unforeseen complications. Com- 
modore Montague has returned ; one of the conse- 
quences of which is that the intimacy between the Misses 
Maud and Suzannah Montague and the ward of worthy 
Omer-Rashid-Effendi, which has seemed to him a most 
desirable one, has been so much encouraged that they 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


195 


have become inseparable, and Kondjé-Gul has of course 
been invited by her young friends to entertainments 
given by their father — invitations which she has been 
unable to decline for fear, thereby, of arousing suspi- 
cions. 

Discretion on my part, you will thus perceive, has 
become more than ever necessary, so long as Kondjé-Gul 
remains with Madame Montier. Our amorous relations 
are absolutely reduced to epistolary effusions, and to clan- 
destine meetings, to bring about which we have recourse 
to all the stratagems employed by separated lovers. 
There is a certain piquancy in these adventures which 
affords us much delight — so true is it that the depriva- 
tion of a pleasure enhances its value. In the morning 
Kondjé-Gul takes riding-lessons in the Bois with Maud 
and Suzannah, who are accompanied by their father. I 
sometimes take a canter that way, in order to watch 
their party ride by. She looks charming in her riding- 
habit, and the Montague girls are really very pretty, 
especially Maud, who has a pert little playful expression 
which is very fascinating. 

I forgot to tell you that Kondjé-Gul’s mother, Murrah- 
Hanum, has arrived. She is a woman of forty-five, tall, 
with a distinguished bearing, and rather handsome still. 
Yet although she has been Europeanized by her resi- 
dence at the French consul’s at Smyrna, and speaks our 
language almost with fluency, she retains in her manners 
all the peculiarities of the Circassian and the Asiatic ; 
she has an easy-going and indolent temperament, and 
in her large dark eyes you can read the stern resig- 


196 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


nation of the fatalist races. When she appeared before 
me, she lavished upon me, in Oriental fashion, the most 
ardent expressions of devotion. I assured her of my 
desire to secure to her a share in all the advantages 
which I wished to confer upon Kondjd-Gul. She ex- 
pressed her gratitude with calmness and dignity, and 
swore to observe towards me the submissive obedience 
which she owed to her daughter’s husband. In short, 
you can picture the interview for yourself; it was 
characterized by all the florid effusiveness of Mahom- 
medan greetings. 




? ArrU 


CHAPTER X. 


I don’t suppose you will be astonished at a curious 
encounter which has just taken place. 

I must tell you that in my uncle’s character while in 
Paris, Barbassou-Pasha, General in the Turkish cavalry, 
predominates over Captain Barbassou the sailor. He 
takes a ride every morning, and I of course accompany 
him. These are our occasions both for intimate talks 
and for discussing serious questions ; and I beg you to 
understand that my uncle’s notions upon the latter are 
by no means ordinary ones. He adorns such questions 
with quite original views — views which are certainly not 
the property of any other mortal known or likely to be 
known in this world below. He starts a subject for me, 
and I give him the cue as well as I can. I know of 


198 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


nothing more instructive than to follow his lines of 
argument — he has a separate one for each subject — 
upon different departments of private and political life, 
judged from his own standpoint. As a legislator I 
fancy he would commit radical mistakes; hut as a 
philosopher, I doubt very much if a match could be 
found for him, for I don’t think that his methods can he 
compared with those of any existing school of thought. 

The other morning we went to the forest of Meudon ; 
my uncle, as a lover of the picturesque, considers that 
the Bois de Boulogne, with its lake, looks as if it had 
been taken out of a box of German toys. We arrived 
at Villebon, a sort of farm situated in the middle of the 
forest, with a few fields attached to it. There is a 
restaurant there, which is much frequented on Sundays 
during the summer. 

My uncle, enchanted with the place, wanted to stop 
and take his glass of madeira there. So, leaving our 
horses in charge of a stable-boy, we went into one of 
the rooms. At a table at the further end, quite a 
stylish-looking woman, who looked as if she were out 
with somebody on the spree, was sitting by herself, 
finishing a liqueur-ice, with her hat off and lying by her 
side. Her figure, as viewed from the back, was exqui- 
site, with graceful and well-set shoulders, an elegantly 
poised neck with a lovely little dimple on the nape, 
crowned by a luxuriant chignon, from which emerged 
a profusion of rebellious tresses . 

“ Waiter ! Madeira, please ! ” shouted my uncle in 
his formidable bass voice. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


199 


At this unexpected explosion, the strange lady jumped 
up from her chair and looked suddenly round. But 
directly she saw the captain, she screamed out and 
fainted away all at once. 

I must do my uncle the justice of admitting that 
when he noticed the remarkable effect he had produced, 
he exhibited a slight gesture of surprise ; which, how- 
ever, soon passed off. Without calling any help, in 
four strides he reached the lady’s side, and supported 
her against the table, raising up her pretty head which 
had fallen back, and slapping her hands. Then, having 
satisfied himself that she had completely lost conscious- 
ness, he began without any more ado to unfasten her 
dress, tore open her collar, and, with admirable dexterity, 
unhooked the upper part of her stays thereby reveal- 

ing to our gaze two charming globes, imprisoned in 
lace. 

This spectacle, I avow, might have made any other 
man pause in his zealous operations, — not so my uncle, 
however ; he did not think twice about it, but with his 
usual unconcerned air proceeded to open out the fair 
one’s stays, then took up the water-bottle, and emptied 
it with one dash into the hollow between her rounded 
charms. 

A convulsive start, and another scream, indicated 
immediately the successful effect of this triumphant 
measure. 

“ There!” he said to me, “you see that’s all that 
was needed.” 

Just at this moment the gentleman who belonged to 


200 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


the lady came in. It is hardly necessary to add that 
when he saw my uncle occupied upon a business so 
distinctly his own, the new-comer evinced some temper. 

“ Bon Dieu !” he shouted out as he rushed forward, 
“ What’s the meaning of this ? What’s the meaning of 
this ? ” 

“Nothing serious!” answered the pasha. “Your 
lady has simply been in a swoon, nothing more ; it’s all 
over now ! ” 

“ But what have you been about, sir ? What do you 
mean by throwing water like that, right upon people’s 
bosoms — ? ” 

“ It was all to do you a service,” replied this saviour, 
quite composedly. 

The lady, for her part, looked as if she was going off 
in another fit, but my uncle, judging no doubt that he 
had fulfilled his part of the duties, and without troubling 
himself any further about the mingled alarms and stares 
of the people of the house who came up, made one of 
his ceremonious bows to the whole company, and took 
me away with him, saying, 

“ Come, let us drink our madeira.” 

So we went out. 

Being accustomed to Barbassou-Pasha’s ways, I was 
certainly not surprised at such a trifle as this. The 
waiter having served us, ten minutes had elapsed, and 
while we were discussing the irreparable loss of the 
Xerez and Douro vines, all of a sudden the door opened. 
It was the lady’s cavalier, and he came in raging like a 
storm. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


201 


“Bagasse ! ” he exclaimed with a furious look, and his 
hair bristling up like a porcupine. “ But you won’t get 
off quite so easily as that, sir ! Who ever heard of such 
a thing? Undressing a defenceless woman like that, 
and quite a stranger too ! ! Not to mention that you 
have spoilt her dress, which looks as if she had been 
under the pump ! ” 

His words rolled on like a torrent, in the purest 
Provençal accent. This made my uncle smile, as if at 
some pleasant reminiscence ; and putting on his most 
engaging expression, he asked the new-comer in a gentle 
tone of voice : 

“ What are you to this lady ? ” 

“ She is my sister-in-law, sir ! ” he replied in a fury, 
his voice swelling louder and louder : “ She is my 
brother’s wife, sir ; and he’s no fool, no more am I, 

sir ! Twenty-one years of service, eleven campaigns, 

and sub-lieutenant of the Customs at Toulon, sir ! 

So you shall just let me know how it was my sister-in- 
law fainted through your fault ; and what you meant by 
taking the liberty of exposing her in a way that no 
decent man would be guilty of, not even with the 
consent of her family, nor if she were in mortal danger 
of her life, sir ! ” 

“ And where do you live ? ” continued my uncle, sip- 
ping his madeira, and still fixing upon the fair one’s 
brother-in-law the same charming gaze. 

“ Hôtel des Bouches-du-Rhone, Rue Pagevin. I am 
escorting my sister-in-law, and I am responsible for her 
to her husband.” 


202 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ My compliments to you, sir ! She is a charming 
young person.” 

This magnificent composure of my uncle’s so com- 
pletely disconcerted the lieutenant of the Customs that 
he stopped short. But he had been carried on too far 
by his hot meridional temper not to launch out again very 
soon. He followed up with a perfect flood of abuse, inter- 
larded with the most approved insults, with violent epi- 
thets and noisy oaths. My uncle listened to him quietly, 
stroking his chin, and contemplating him as if watching 
the performance of some surprising feat. The Toulon- 
nais said that he considered this fainting fit of his 
sister-in-law’s, and the very unceremonious proceedings 
which had followed it, equally suspicious and irregu- 
lar. 

“ My brother’s honour has been outraged,” and so on, 
he observed. 

But at last the good fellow was obliged to pause in 
order to take breath. Barbassou-Pasha took advantage 
of the opening. 

“ Pray what is your name?” he asked, still smiling 
affably. 

" My name, my good man,” loftily replied the man of 
Toulon, “ is Firmin Bonaffé, lieutenant in the Customs, 
seen twenty-one years of service and eleven campaigns. 
And if that is not enough for you ” 

“ Why, dear me ! then this charming young person 
has married your brother, has she ? ” 

“ A week ago, sir, at Cadiz, where she lives ! It was 
because he had to go back over the sea to Brazil that he 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


208 


confided her to my charge. And you must not imagine 
that I can let your outrageous behaviour to her pass 
without further notice, sir ! ” 

“ You are a man of spirit, sir, that I can see ! ” replied 
my uncle. He was gradually falling into his native 
assent , charmed, no doubt, by the soothing example of 
his adversary. “ I can understand your feelings/’ ho 
continued; “ and for my part, my good fellow, I confess 
I should not have the slightest objection to taking a 
sabre and slicing off a piece of your person.” [He 
uttered this latter word, individu , in French, with the 
Marseillais pronunciation, mndividu.] “ Indeed,” he 
continued quite placidly, “ I should have no objection 
to throwing you through the window here, just as you 
are.” 

This, following upon his imperturbable coolness 
throughout, had, I can aver, a most aggravating effect. 
Being a little man and a braggart, Firmin Bonaffé felt 
the insult all the more hotly. 

“Throw me through the window? Me !” he ex- 
claimed, drawing himself up as if he wanted to touch 
the sky. “ Try then ! Just try ! ” 

“ By-and-by,” said my uncle, pacifying him with a 
good-humoured gesture ; “ but for the present let us 
have a talk, my good fellow ! Certainly I sympathise 
with your annoyance ; for you must have perceived that 
I know this lady, and that she knows me. There has 

even been a little liaison between us ” 

“ Bagasse ! You confess to it, then ? ” 

“ I confess to it ! ” responded the captain, in a con- 


204 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


ciliatory manner. “ But, my dear fellow, a brother’s 
horns, as the saying goes, need not trouble one so much 
as one’s own. You will of course agree with me on that 
point.” 

“ I agree with you there ! ” replied the Toulonnais, 
quite gravely, as if struck by a specious argument. 
“ But it does not follow from that ” 

“ Stop a moment ! ” interrupted my uncle, who wished 
to pursue his argument. “ I, whom you see here, have 
also had the honour of being made a cuckold, as they 
say in Molière. You are acquainted with Molière, I 
dare say ? ” 

“lam; go on ! ” said the lieutenant, who had made 
up his mind to restrain himself while my uncle was 
developing his explanations. 

“ Very well ! as you have read him, you ought to 
know that a misadventure like that is not such a great 
matter after all. A second or two and it is all over, 
just like having a tooth out. Besides, remember this, 
the tooth cannot be replaced, while in the case of a 
woman, one can find plenty to take her place.” 

“ That’s true ! ” returned Firmin Bonafie, who opened 
his eyes wide, as if he wished to follow this chain of 
reasoning, which evidently astonished him by its per- 
spicuity. 

The issue began to be cleared. 

“ Then we have arrived at the same opinion,” con- 
tinued Barbassou Pasha. “ All that remains is to come 
to an understanding.” 

“ By no means ! by no means ! I repeat, my brother 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


205 


confided his wife to my charge. You have insulted her 
in public, and in the name of decency — ” 

“Oh, no!” interrupted my uncle; “you are exaggera- 
ting ! In the first place, my nephew and I were the 
only persons present ; therefore there was no very great 
harm done. Then you brought the people up by your 
shouting ; consequently it is I who have cause to com- 
plain.’ * 

“Té! Are you trying to make a fool of me ? ” 
exclaimed the Toulonnais, bursting out upon us like a 
bomb with another explosion. “ Do you suppose, then, 
that I am going down on my knees to thank you for 
having undressed Jean Bonafie’s wife ? ” 

“ Jean Bonafie’s wife ? No, no, my good fellow ! ” 
briefly replied my uncle. 

“ Why ‘ No ’ ? ” 

“ Why, in the first place, because she is actually my 
own wife ! ” 

“ Yours ? ” 

“As I have the pleasure of informing you. And 
consequently it is I who would be entitled not to be at 
all pleased by your intervention in the little domestic 
occurrence which took place just now.” 

The Toulonnais, for the moment, was struck dumb 
with astonishment. 

“ Then, bagasse! who are you ? ” he asked. 

“ The late Barbassou, retired general, seen fifty years 
of service, and thirty-nine campaigns, and the husband 
of your sister-in-law, who is now a bigamist — rather an 
awkward mistake for a lady.” 


206 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


My uncle might have gone on speaking for the rest 
of the day, and had it all his own way. The unfortu- 
nate lieutenant stared at him, crushed and dumbfounded 
by this astounding revelation. All at once, and without 
waiting to hear any more, he turned on his heels, and 
beat a precipitate retreat by the door. 

The late Barbassou indulged in a smile at this very 
intelligible discomfiture of his adversary. He had 
finished his madeira, and we went out to get our horses 
again. 

Directly he had mounted into the saddle, he said to 
me, reverting to the subject of our interrupted conver- 
sation : 

“ Do you know, I think it’s all up with the Madeira 
vines ; but as to those of the Douro, with careful graft- 
ing, we might still pull them through ! ” 

“ I hope so, uncle !” I replied. 

And, as a matter of fact, I think he is right. Perhaps 
we shall soon know. 

Come, I must tell you about a new occurrence which 
is already influencing my romance in the most un- 
expected manner. 

I don’t suppose you have forgotten our Captain Pick- 
lock and the famous story of the camels which were 
recovered through his good offices. Well, the captain, 
having returned from Aden with the fever, and being at 
Paris on his way home, accepted the hospitality of Baron 
de Villeneuve, late consul at Pondicherry, whom you 
know. Two days ago we were invited to a farewell 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


207 


dinner, given in his honour. It was quite a love-feast : 
half a dozen friends, all of whom had been several times 
round the world, and had met each other in various 
latitudes. The ladies consisted of the amiable Baroness 
de Villeneuve, Mrs. Picklock, and my aunt. You may 
imagine what a number of old recollections they dis- 
cussed during dinner. After the coffee we went into 
the drawing-room, where a card-table was being set out 
for whist, when my uncle said : 

“By the bye, what has become of our good friend 
Montague ? ” 

“ Oh, Montague,’ * answered the baron ; “he is in 
Paris. He has been prevented from dining with us by 
an invitation to his ambassador’s ; but he will look in 
this evening, and you will see him.” 

“ Ah, that’s capital ! ” exclaimed my uncle ; “I shall 
be delighted to see him again.” 

When I heard this name mentioned, I pricked up my 
ears. Still there was nothing to indicate that the 
Montague spoken of was the commodore. I listened 
with curiosity. 

“Will he stay in Paris any length of time?” my 
uncle continued. 

“ The whole winter,” replied the baroness. “ He has 
come to pick up his daughters, whom he had left in my 
charge two years ago, before he went off to the North 
Pole.” 

“ Ah, yes ! little Maud and Suzannah,” observed my 
uncle. 

“ Yes, captain ; only your little Maud and Suzannah 


208 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


are now grown-up young ladies,” added the baroness 
with a laugh. 

It was impossible for me to entertain any more 
doubts ; and I confess my mind was far from easy when 
I heard this. At the thought of meeting the commo- 
dore, my first idea was to get away at once, before he 
arrived. Although I was confident of the perfect 
security of my secret, and although it was the merest 
chance that had brought about the intimacy which I 
could not have foreseen between Kondjé-Gul and his 
daughters, I could not conceal from myself the em- 
barassment which I should feel in his presence. As 
bad luck would have it, I was already seated at the 
card-table. I lost my tricks as fast as I could in order 
to shorten the game, swearing inwardly at the captain 
and my uncle, who were both of them playing with a 
provoking deliberation, and lecturing me upon my 
careless play. At last, having succeeded in losing my 
three rubbers, I got up from the table, alleging a sudden 
attack of head- ache, when at this very moment, in the 
next drawing-room where the baroness was sitting, the 
servant announced, 

“ Commodore Montague ! ” 

Just imagine my stupefaction, Louis, when I saw the 
commodore come in, followed by his two daughters and 
Kondjé-Gul, whom he introduced to the baroness and to 
my aunt as a schoolfellow of his daughters, Maud and 
Suzannah ! 

You may guess what a state of confusion I was thrown 
into by this spectacle. Whatever would happen ? My 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


209 


chances of retreat being now completely cut off, I with- 
drew myself to the midst of a group who were talking 
together in a corner of the room. Kondjd-Gul was 
listening timidly to the baroness’s compliments, and I 
heard the latter say : 

“ I am much indebted, mademoiselle, to our friend 
the commodore who has done us the favour of bringing 
you with him ; Maud and Suzannah had already spoken 
to me so often about you, that I had a great desire to 
make your acquaintance.” 

The striking beauty of the young foreigner had 
created quite a sensation, and feeling that all their 
eyes were fixed on her, she did not venture to look 
about her. Still it was necessary to anticipate the 
dangerous consequences of the least imprudence on the 
part of either of us, by putting her on her guard before 
the baroness had the opportunity of introducing me to 

the commodore and his daughters. By rather a 

clever manœuvre, therefore, I managed to slip behind 
my aunt while she was talking to the American young 
ladies. 

When Kondjé-Gul saw me, she could not help giving 
a start of surprise, hut I had time to put my finger to 
my lips, and signify to her that she must not show that 
she knew me. Our encounters in the Bois, during our 
morning rides, had fortunately trained her already for 
this necessary piece of dissimulation : and she had 
sufficient self-control not to betray our secret. My 
aunt turned round at that very moment, and seeing me 
standing by her chair, said to me : 


210 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Oh, André, come and let me introduce you to this 
young lady ! ” 

Kondjé-Gul blushed when I bowed to her, and re- 
turned my bow very prettily. I was introduced in the 
same way to the commodore and his daughters. There 
was a vacant chair close to them on which the baroness 
made me sit down, and I soon found myself engaged in 
a general conversation with them ; I may add that the 
liveliness of the Montague girls rendered our conversa- 
tion much easier than I had expected. Having been 
brought up in the American way, they possessed that 
youthful independence of spirit which is stifled in our 
own girls by a more strict and formal education, 
on the false ground of the requirements of modesty. 
Kondjé-Gul, although rather reserved at first, expanded 
gradually, and I was astonished at the change which 
had been effected in her whole bearing. Certainly one 
could still guess that she was a foreigner, but she had 
acquired quite a new ease in her deportment and in her 
language. Being reassured by her behaviour against 
the risks of this encounter, which I had at first so much 
dreaded, I freely accepted the peculiar position in which 
I was placed. There was a positive charm about this 
mystery, the pleasure of which I can hardly explain to 
you. 

Although this was quite a small and friendly party, 
there were now enough young people to get up a “hop,” 
so the baroness instructed me to lead off with Miss 
Suzannah, which I did very willingly, asking her for a 
polka. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 211 

“ What do you think of my friend Kondjé-Gul ? ” she 
said to me, when we sat down after a few turns. 

“ She is remarkably pretty,” I replied. 

“ I suppose you’ll ask her for a dance with you ? ” 
she -continued, with a smile. 

“ I shall certainly not fail in this duty to a friend of 
yours and Miss Maud’s ! ” 

“ Miss Maud and I thank you very much for the 
attention,” she said, with a ceremonious how ; “ only,” 
she added, smiling maliciously at me, “I must prepare 
you for a disappointment, which you will, no doubt, feel 
very much afflicted by — our friend does not dance ! ” 

“ What, never ? ” 

“ We have given several little parties at my father’s 
rooms, and have never been able to persuade her to.” 

“Ah ! that’s no doubt because she only knows her 
oriental dances.” 

• “ You’re quite wrong there ! She has taken lessons 
just as we have, and waltzes splendidly ; hut she won’t 
even dance with the professor ; it’s always Maud or I 
who act as her partners. She has some principles on 
this subject which appear to be rooted in her, and which 
we have not yet succeeded in overcoming.” 

“ If you would help me this evening,” I said, “perhaps 
we can succeed between us.” 

“What, is it to be a conspiracy? ” 

“ Quite a friendly one, for you must admit that it is 
for her own interest.” 

“ I won’t deny it,” she replied, with a laugh ; “ but 
how are we to force her ? ” 


212 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Then I noticed poor Kondjé-Gul, who was watching 
us, and seemed to envy us. 

“ Listen ! ” I said, as if a sudden idea had struck me. 
“ I know of a likely way.” 

“Well?” 

“ Let us take my aunt into our confidence ; I see 
them over there talking Turkish together. My aunt 
will perhaps he able to exercise sufficient influence over 
your friend to convince her that she may conform to our 
usages without committing any offence.” 

“Yes, that’s the way to manage it ! ” exclaimed Miss 
Suzannah, in delight. “ Our conspiracy is making pro- 
gress ; hut how shall we get at your aunt ? ” 

“ Does Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul understand Eng- 
lish ?” I asked her. 

“ No, not a word.” 

“ Then it’s a very simple matter,” I added. “After 
this polka I’ll take you hack to your seat ; you then 
communicate our scheme to my aunt in English, and 
ask for her assistance ; I come up, as if hy chance, and 
try my luck with her for the next waltz.” 

We did as we said. 1 watched from the distance this 
important conference, all the details of which I guessed. 
While Miss Suzannah was addressing my aunt in 
English, I saw her laugh in a sly manner, casting a 
glance at me. She at once understood our request; 
then turned her attention again to Kondjé-Gul, and 
continued, quite undisturbed, the subject which she had 
last commenced talking about with her. I had so 
perfectly anticipated all the phases of this scene, that I 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


213 


seemed to hear what she said. By Kondjé- Gul’s face 
I could tell the momeut my aunt approached her on our 
subject, and the negative gesture with which she replied 
was so decisive — I was nearly saying so full of horror — 
that, fearing lest she should cut off her retreat com- 
pletely, I deemed it advisable to intervene as quickly as 
possible. 

I advanced, therefore, without any more ado, joined 
their group, and addressing myself to the handsome 
young foreigner, I said to her : 

“I should not like you to think me indifferent to the 
pleasure of dancing with you, mademoiselle ; I meant 
to have asked you for the first waltz ; but, alas ! Miss 
Suzannah tells me that you do not dance ! ” 

“You have come to the rescue, André,” chimed in 
my aunt. “ I was just endeavouring to convert the 
young lady to our customs by telling her that she would 
be taken for a little savage.” 

At this expression, which she had so often heard me 
utter, Kondjé-Gul smiled and cast a furtive glance at 
me. Miss Suzannah supported my aunt, and the victory 
was already won. They were beginning to play a waltz, 
so Maud took her hand and forced it into mine ; I 
clasped her by the waist and led her off. During the 
first few turns Kondjé-Gul trembled with excitement ; 
I felt her heart beating violently against my bosom, and 
I confess I was nearly losing my own self-possession. 
Once we found ourselves some way removed from the 
rest, and, with her head resting on my shoulder, she 
whispered in my ear : 


214 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Do you still love me, dear? Are you satisfied with 
me?" 

“ Yes, but take care ! ” I answered hurriedly : “ you 
are too beautiful, and all their eyes are fixed upon us.” 

“ If they only knew ! ” she added, with a laugh. 

I stopped a moment, to let her take breath. Each 
time any couple came near us, we appeared to be 
engaged in one of those ball-room conversations the 
only characteristic of which is their frivolity, and as 
soon as they were out of hearing, we talked together in 
a low voice. 

“ You naughty fellow,” she said, “ I have not seen 
you in the Bois for three days ! ” 

“ It was from motives of prudence,” I replied. “ And 
now prepare yourself for a surprise. Your new house 
is ready and you can go there the day after to morrow.” 

“ Do you really mean it ? ” exclaimed she, “Oh ! 
what happiness ! Then you find me sufficiently Euro- 
peanized ? ” 

“ You coquette ! you are adorable ! What a nice 

fan you have, mademoiselle ! ” added I, changing my 
manner as Maud came close to us. 

“ Do you think so ” she answered, “ Is it Chinese or 
Japanese ? ” 

Maud having passed we resumed our conversation, 
overjoyed at the idea of constantly seeing each other 
again. The waltz was just ending and I was obliged to 
conduct Kondjé-Gul back to my aunt. 

“Listen!” she remarked, “whenever I put my fan 
up to my lips, that will mean 4 1 love you * You must 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


215 


come back soon to invite me for another dance, won’t 
you ? ” 

“My dear girl, I can’t.” 

“ Why ? ” 

“ Because it is not usual, and would be remarked/’ 
I replied. 

“ But I don’t want to dance with anyone else ! ” 
she said, almost with a terrified look. 

I had not for once thought of this very natural con- 
sequence of our little adventure, and I must confess that 
the idea of anyone else asking her after me took me 
quite by surprise — like some improbability which no 
mortal could conceive. 

“ What shall I do ? ” she said. 

It was necessary at all costs to repair the effects of 
our imprudence. I invented for her a sudden indis- 
position, a dizziness which obliged her to leave off 
waltzing, and I conducted her back to my aunt. This 
pretext would be sufficient to justify her in declining to 
dance for the rest of the evening. 

I know very well, my dear fellow, that you will cry 
out against me when I tell you of this strange feeling 
which pierced me suddenly like a thorn in the heart, at 
the notion of seeing Kondjé-Gul dance with another 
man. But how could I help it ? 

I simply relate to you a psychological fact and 
nothing more. 

You may tell me, if you like, that this is a ridiculous 
exaggeration, and that I am giving myself the morose 


216 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


airs of a jealous sultan. The truth is that in my 
harem life, I have contracted prudish alarms and real 
susceptibilities which are excited by things which 
would not have affected me formerly. Contact with 
the outside world will, no doubt, restore me to the calm 
frame of mind enjoyed by every good husband. Perhaps 
some day I may even be able to feel pride as I watch my 
wife with naked arms and shoulders whirling round the 
room in the amorous embrace of a hussar. At present 
my temper is less complaisant : my love is a master’s 
love, and the notion that any man could venture to press 
my Kondjé- Gul’s little finger would be enough to throw 
me into a fit of rage. That’s what we Orientals are 
like, you know ! 

However that be, I led Kondjé-Gul hack to my aunt’s 
side, and she did not dance any more. 

From a corner of the drawing-room I saw some half-a- 
dozen of my friends march up to get introduced to her, 
anxiously longing to obtain the same favour as I had, 
and I laughed at their discomfiture. 

Meanwhile the commodore, who, by the way, is a 
highly educated and thoroughly good-natured man, had 
marked me out, and was so kind in his attentions to me, 
that I felt constrained, in spite of my scruples, to accept 
his advances. His relations with my uncle, moreover, 
might have made the cold reserve which I had so far 
maintained appear singular. Finally, towards the middle 
of the entertainment, when he was going away with his 
daughters and Kondjé-Gul, whom he had to see home 
to Madame Montier’s, I had, without meaning it, so 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


217 


completely won his good opinion, that I found myself 
invited to accompany my aunt who was dining with him 
the next day but one. 

Although it was only a fatality that had led to this 
extraordinary complication, I must own that, when I 
began to think over it and to contemplate the possible 
consequences, I felt a considerable anxiety. Hitherto, 
by a compromise with conscience, which Kondjé- Gul’s 
childlike simplicity rendered almost excusable, I had 
been enabled to deceive myself about the consequences 
of this school-friendship with two American girls who 
were strangers to me. This, I thought, would never he 
more than a chance companionship, and when her time 
with them was over, the Misses Maud and Suzannah 
would remain ignorant of her real position, which they 
had no occasion for suspecting. But I could not fail to 
perceive that our relations with the commodore must 
aggravate our difficulties to a remarkable extent. 

Our society affords shelter, certainly, to many a 
hidden romance : we have both honest loves and shady 
intrigues confused and interlaced in its mazes so that 
they escape all notice. Yet, certain as I felt that 
nothing could occur to betray our extraordinary secret, I 
was troubled all the same at the part which I should 
have to play in this family with which my uncle was 
on such intimate terms. 

Placed face to face with the inexorable logic of facts, 
I could not long deceive myself as to the course which 
the most elementary sense of delicacy prescribed to me. 
I could see clearly during this last evening party, 


218 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


that Kondjé-Gul had no further need of Madame 
Montier’s lessons to complete her social education. 
Count TéraPs house being now ready to receive her, I 
need only settle her there with her mother in order to 
commence at once the happy life of which we had so 
often dreamed. Then it would be easy to withdraw 
gradually from the society of the Montague girls, and 
thus banish all future risks. 

Having decided upon this course, I wrote the same 
evening to Kondjé-Gul to ask her to prepare for 
her return. 




CHAPTER XL 


You know, my dear Louis, that whenever I have 
formed any plan, whether a reckless one or even a wise 
one, I go straight at it with the stubbornness of a mule. 
This, perhaps, explains many of my follies. According 
to my view (as a believer in free-will), man is himself 
a will or independent power served by his organs ; he is 
a kind of manifestation of the spirit of nature created to 
control matter. Any man who abdicates his rights, or 
gives way before obstacles, abandons his mission and 
returns to the rank of the beasts. His is a lost power, 
which has evaporated into space. Such is my opinion. 

This highly philosophical prelude was necessary, as 
you will see, in order to fix my principles before pro- 


220 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


ceeding any further ; and, above all, in order to defend 
myself beforehand against any rash accusation of fickle- 
ness in my plans. Science has mysterious paths, along 
which we feel our way, without seeing clearly our desti- 
nation. The consequence of which is that, just when we 
fancy that we have reached the end, new and immense 
horizons open out before us. 

But I am getting tired of my metaphor. 

It all amounts to this — that having the honour of 
being my uncle’s nephew, nothing happens to me in the 
same way as to other mortals, and that consequently 
all the careful arrangements that I made in regard to 
Kondjé-Gul have eventuated in a manner completely 
opposed to my express intentions. But although my 
objective has been considerably enlarged, it remains 
substantially the same, as I think you will remark. 

Kondjé-Gul and her mother are now settled down in 
Count Téral’s house ; and it is hardly necessary for me 
to describe to you the joy which she felt at the termina- 
tion of her educational seclusion. The first few days 
after her return were days of frenzied delight, and we 
spent them almost entirely together. Her metamor- 
phosis was now so complete, that I felt as if I were 
witnessing one of the fabulous Indian avatars , and that 
another soul had taken up its dwelling in this divinely 
beautiful body of hers. I could not tire of watching her 
as she walked, and listening to her as she spoke. In 
her Oriental costume, which she occasionally resumes, 
in order to please me, the American girl’s ways, which 
she has picked up from Suzannah and Maud, produce a 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


221 


most remarkable effect. And with all this was mingled 
that exquisitely blended aroma of youth, beauty, 
and dignity, which permeated her and surrounded 
her like the sweet perfume of some strange Oriental 
blossom ! 

We have settled our plan of life. Knowing the whole 
truth, as she does now, about our social habits, she 
understands the necessity of veiling our happiness under 
the most profound mystery. Confiding in the sanctity 
of a tie which her religion legitimizes, she is aware 
that we must conceal it from the eyes of the world, like 
any secret marriage. Besides, what advantage would 
there be in lifting the veil of mystery, and taking the 
poetry out of this romantic union — thus reducing it to 
the vulgar level of an ordinary intrigue ? If I were to 
treat my Kondjé like a common mistress, would not that 
be degrading her ? 

When I tried to console her for the dulness which 
this constraint must cause her, she exclaimed, with 
vehemence — 

“Be so good as not to calumniate my woman’s heart ! 
What do I care for your country, and its laws, so long 
as you love me? I don’t care to know either your 
society, or its customs, or its conventionalities. I belong 
to you, and I love you ; that is all I see, all I feel. I 
am neither your wife, nor your mistress. From the 
depths of my soul I feel that I am more than either. 
I am your slave, and I wish to preserve my bonds. 
Command me, do what you like with me ; and when 
you love me no longer, kill me, that’s all ! ” 


222 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Yes, dear ! ” I replied, laughing at her rhapsodies, 
" I will sew you up in a sack, and go and throw you in 
the Bosphorus some evening ! ” 

She received this remark with a peal of childish 
laughter. 

“ Goodness me!” she said, in her confusion ; “ why, 
I was quite forgetting that I am civilised ! ” 

Count Téral’s house has been quite a find for us ; it 
seems just as if it had been built expressly for Kondjé- 
Gul and her mother. On the ground-floor, approached 
by a short flight of eight steps, is a drawing-room, which 
opens into a sort of hall, resembling an artist’s studio. 
The latter serves as picture-gallery, library, and con- 
cert-room. Above the wainscoting the eye is relieved 
by silk hangings, of a large grey-striped pattern on 
white ground, in contrast with which is the rich garnet 
of a velvet-covered suite of furniture. There are some 
curious old cabinets in carved ebony, set out with 
statuettes, vases, flowers, and nick-nacks. The general 
effect is lively, enchanting, and luxurious ; in fact, just 
what the home of a young lady of patrician birth, who 
confines herself to a small circle of friends, should be. 
On the first floor are the private apartments, and on the 
second the servants’ rooms. The establishment is main- 
tained on the elegant, yet simple scale, which seems 
proper for members of good society ; they keep three 
horses, and a neat brougham : nothing more. Their 
luxuries, in short, are all in the well-considered style 
suitable for a rich foreign lady and her daughter, who 
mix in Parisian society with the reserve and delicate 


LOVE IN A HAREM 223 

taste of two women anxious to avoid attracting too much 
attention. 

Kondjé- Gul’s private life is contrived, as well as 
everything else, to preserve her against solitude or dul- 
ness. She is completing her “ civilisation” with in- 
dustrious zeal. Every morning, from eight o’clock to 
twelve, is devoted to work; governesses from Madame 
Montier’s come to continue her course of lessons ; then 
from one to two she practises on the piano. Her curious 
mind, with its mixture of ardent imagination and youth- 
ful intelligence, is really producing a wonderful intel- 
lectual structure upon its original foundation of native 
belief and superstitions. I am often quite surprised by 
hearing her display, on the subject of our social con- 
tradictions, an amount of observation and a grasp of 
view which would do credit to a philosopher. 

After two o’clock she dresses, and takes a walk or a 
ride, or makes calls with her friends, the Montague 
girls ; for in spite of all my excellent intentions, their 
intimacy has only increased since they were all emanci- 
pated from the restraints of school life. Kondjé-Gul 
being now under her mother’s protection, the most 
regular position she could have in the world, it would 
have been difficult indeed to find a pretext for breaking 
it off. Moreover, I had come to the conclusion that, 
owing to my having been introduced to the commodore’s 
family by my uncle, there could be no danger in these 
encounters with Kondjé-Gul at their house. It was by 
Maud and Suzannah that I had been presented to their 
fair foreign companion, and who would suspect it was 


224 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


not at Madame de Villeneuve* s party that I had first 
spoken to her ? Consequently, if any unforeseen cir- 
cumstance should some day betray our secret, I could 
at least rest assured that Commodore Montague would 
never think of accusing me of anything more than a 
romantic adventure, resulting by a natural train of 
circumstances from that introduction. 

Nothing, as you perceive, could be more correct from 
the worldly point of view. I am well aware that as a 
rigid moralist you would not neglect the opportunity, if 
I gave it you, of lecturing me upon the rashness of my 
course. Well, for my part, I maintain that our respect 
for the proprieties consists chiefly in our respect for our- 
selves. Chance, which led us into the society of the 
foreign colony, together with Kondjé-Gul’s charming 
manner, have naturally created for her a number of 
pleasant acquaintances, which I should never perhaps 
have aimed at obtaining for her. All that was needed to 
secure her this advantage was that we should both pay to 
the world this tribute of mystery to which it is entitled. 
Our society is so mixed that I do not think you would 
have been scandalised if you had met Kondjé-Gul at the 
ball at the British Embassy, where she went the other 
night with her mother, and Commodore Montague. 
The admiration which she excited as she passed must 
certainly have disarmed your objections. 

Being always about with the Montague girls, Kondjé- 
Gul soon got invited with them to the balls to which 
the commodore took his daughters. Having been 
admitted to two or three aristocratic drawing-rooms, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


225 


such as that of Princess B and Marchioness 

d’A , she obtained the entry to all the others. 

With your knowledge of the infatuations of our fashion- 
able world, you can imagine the extravagant style of 
admiring gossip with which such a beautiful rising 
star is greeted wherever she goes. I should add that 
the young sinner understands it all very well, and is 
very much flattered by it. 

The mystery which surrounds her increases the 
peculiarity of our situation. Being always chaperoned 
by her mother, whose foreign type of features creates an 
imposing impression, Kondjé-Gul is taken for one of 
those young ladies who are models of filial respect. 
The style of their house and of their dress, and that 
refined elegance which stamps them as ladies of 
distinction, designate them no less indisputably the 
possessors of a large fortune and of high rank. All 
this, you will perceive, formed a crowning justification for 
the success which Kondjé-Gul’s remarkable beauty had 
of itself sufficed to achieve for her. Then of course 
the fashionable reporters of the official receptions ful- 
filled their duty by heralding the advent of this brilliant 
star. They only made the mistake — one of those mis- 
takes so common with journalists — of describing her as 
a Georgian. 

Confident in the security of our mystery, Kondjé-Gul 
and I find nothing more delightful than the manœuvres 
by which we deceive them all. We have invented a code 
of signs, the meaning of which we keep to ourselves, 


226 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


and which leads to some very amusing by-play 
between us. 

Thus the other evening, at Madame de T ’s, she 

was sitting by Maud and Suzannah, surrounded by a 
number of admirers, when the young Duke de Marandal, 
one of the most ardent of my acknowledged rivals, was 
lavishing upon her his most seductive attentions. 
Kondjé was listening to him with a charming smile on 
her face. Now that evening, I must tell you, she had 
resolved upon a bit of fun ; and knowing that in France 
unmarried girls are not supposed to wear jewellery, she 
had fastened on her wrist a heavy gold bracelet as a 
token of her servitude. So while the young duke was 
talking, she looked at me, playing carelessly the while 
with what she calls her “ slave’s ring.” You may guess 
how we laughed together over it. 


a 




CHAPTER XII. 


I have to inform you, my dear fellow, that my uncle, 
who has always been admired so far for his virtuous con- 
duct, and whom I should certainly have been ready to 
quote as a paragon of husbands, seems just now on the 
way to forfeiting his character. 

Here is what I have to relate : 

Two days ago I went to the Théâtre des Variétés to 
see for the second time the play which is just now the 
rage. Not having obtained a good place, I left my stall 
at the end of the first act with the intention of not 
returning, when, as I passed a rather closely-curtained 
stage-box, I was quite surprised by seeing Barbassou- 


228 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Pasha, who had pretended to be going ont that evening 
to an important dinner with some business friends. He 
was accompanied by a lady whose features were obscured 
by the darkness. 

Being a discreet and respectful nephew, I was about to 
turn my eyes the other way, when he beckoned me with 
an imperative gesture to join him in his box. I imme- 
diately obeyed this peremptory summons, and, going 
round by the passage, got the box-opener to usher 
me in. 

“ Come in, and sit down,” said my uncle, pointing out 
to me a chair behind him. 

Once more I obeyed him, bowing politely to the lady, 
whose features I could not clearly distinguish. I was 
hardly seated when I recognised the fair heroine of the 
fainting fit last week. 

Exquisitely attired in a perfectly ravishing costume, 
Madame Jean Bonaffé replied to my compliments by a 
charming smile, and a pretty glance from her fine 
Spanish eyes, which showed me clearly that she was 
troubled by no remnants of that sudden indisposition 
which the too unexpected encounter with my uncle had 
produced. 

Our conversation turned upon the play. As she 
spoke French rather badly (although she understood it 
very well), she asked my uncle from time to time to tell 
her the words she was in need of. This he did, pro- 
nouncing them with grammatical deliberation, and then 
leaving us to talk alone, while he surveyed the audience 
like one superior to such frivolities as feminine small- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


229 


talk. My companion was very gay, and was crunching 
bonbons all the time. 

I, as you may be sure, was gallant and attentive, and 
I followed her example with the bonbons. 

My former aunt, Christina de Portero, is at the happy 
age of between twenty-eight and thirty. Or, possibly, 
she is as old as thirty-two. Her figure is slender and 
supple, with those hold expansions of the hips which, in 
dancing the fandango, make short work of the skirt. 
Add to these fascinating details the accurate information 
with which I have already supplied you on the subject 
of her exuberant bust, and you can picture her very well 
for yourself. 

She has a fine erect head, clear and singularly expres- 
sive features, a warm complexion, a Grecian nose, with 
quivering nostrils, and a mouth adorned with pearly 
teeth, with a soft, black, downy growth on her upper lip. 
She is an Andalusian, overflowing with life and spirits, 
whose exuberance, however, is tempered by her graceful 
and truly refined demeanour. One can guess what a 
fire of passion smoulders within her. 

My uncle was in perfection that evening. From 
time to time he discarded his philosophic calm in order 
to take a look at us and reply in Spanish to his fair 
friend’s questions. He addressed her as “ querida,” in 
that indulgent tone which is peculiar to him, like a 
pasha who is signifying his approbation. 

During the course of our conversation I discovered 
that things had gone on like this between them since 
the day after that famous scene at Villebon, whose 


230 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


lively incidents had doubtless conduced to this friendly 
reconciliation. How had my uncle managed to get 
round the ferocious native of Toulon ? That I could 
never discover. However this may have been, after 
the play was over, we went off, all three of us, to the 
Café Anglais. 

We had a capital supper, during which Madame 
Jean Bonaffé, feeling more at her ease under these 
intimate circumstances, gave free play to her fascina- 
tions. I could soon perceive that in her pleasure at 
forgetting her regrettable escapades of the past, her 
grief over her supposed widowhood, and also the short- 
lived and illegal marriage which she had contracted by 
mistake, she expected that my uncle would settle her 
at Paris. She appeared to speak of this happy pros- 
pect as of something upon which her mind was set, 
and it gave rise to a number of beautiful castles in 
the air. 

Barbassou-Pasha, gallant and attentive as ever, 
listened to all these proposed arrangements for her 
felicity, in that good-natured, patronizing manner which 
he always maintains with women, and only departs from 
in the case of my aunt Eudoxia, who keeps him in 
check. Nodding his approval of everything she said, 
he went on eating and drinking, like a practical man 
who will not neglect the claims of a good supper, and 
he allowed the fair Andalusian to lavish all her 
attentions upon him. 

About two o’clock in the morning, we took a 
brougham, drove back my aunt to the Bue de l’Arcade, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


231 


where she occupies a splendidly furnished suite of 
rooms, and then returned home. 

" What do you think of all that, my dear Louis ? 
Hum ! ” 

Our little circle has been augmented by a very plea- 
sant and genial addition, Mr. Edward Wolsey, a nephew 
of the commodore’s, who may very likely be engaged to 
Maud. 

As I have become quite intimate with Commodore 
Montague’s party, I generally join their group, without 
the smallest fear of raising a suspicion regarding these 
encounters. The attention which I pay to Kondjé-Gul 
and to Suzannah have caused no little envy, for, as you 
know, Kondjé-Gul pretends she does not dance. This 
peculiarity, together with her original fascinations with 
which a certain childish simplicity is mingled, give 
rise to the most extraordinary conjectures. What is 
the cause of all this reserve ? men ask. Is it modesty, 
bashfulness, or pride ? They know that she can 
dance splendidly, for she has been seen dancing occa- 
sionally at private parties with Maud and Suzannah. 
They think it must be due to some jealous fiance , 
her betrothal to whom is kept secret, and to whom 
she is devoted. 

Lent having interrupted the course of public enter- 
tainments, our private parties which usually took place 
at Teral House, became the gainers by it. Maud and 
Suzannah felt more free and easy there, and Kondjé- 
Gul experienced quite a childish delight in holding what 


232 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


she called her “ receptions.” Our small circle was soon 
augmented by a dozen select friends, picked carefully 
from the ranks of their young ball-room acquaintances. 
There were one or two mothers among them whose 
presence did not interfere with the harmony of these 
charming gatherings, and the tone of elegant distinc- 
tion which prevailed in no respect interfered with their 
exuberant gaiety. 

This break in the giddy circle of fashionable dissipa- 
tion, afforded quite a new happiness to Kondjé-Gul and 
me. In the course of her initiation into the refinements 
of our life, her exotic charms had acquired some new 
and indescribable embellishments. We spent many a 
long evening alone together in that delightful privacy 
which affords the sweetest opportunities for communion 
between loving hearts, and we grew to feel like a modern 
Darby and Joan. I was quite proud of my handiwork, 
and contemplated with joy this pure and ideal being 
whose nature I had inspired, whose soul and whose 
heart I had moulded. The cultivation of this young 
and virgin mind, as I may be permitted to call it, so 
possessed by its Oriental beliefs, had produced a charm- 
ing contrast of enthusiasm and calm reason which 
imparted a most original effect to her frank utterances 
of new ideas. I was often quite surprised to find in her 
mingled with her Asiatic superstitions, and transformed 
as it were by contact with a simpler faith, the substance 
of my own private sentiments and of my wildest aspira- 
tions. One might really think that she had borrowed 
her thoughts, nay, her very life, as it were, from me, and 


LOVE IN A HAREM 283 

that her tender emotions had their source in my own 
heart. 

Our happiness seemed so assured, and we had it so 
completely under our own control, that it would have 
appeared absurd for us to imagine it to be at the mercy 
of Fate. Still, in the midst of this tranquillity there 
sometimes arose in my mind an anxious thought. 
Light clouds floated across my clear azure sky, and 
often, as I sat by her side, I began to think, in spite of 
myself, about the future — about this marriage of which 
you yourself have reminded me, and from the obligations 
to which nothing could save me. However great the 
sacrifice might be, I could not even think of failing to 
carry out my uncle’s wishes in this matter. My heart 
bound me to this adoptive father who had placed 
unlimited faith in my loyalty: my whole life was 
pledged to this chivalrous benefactor who had left all 
his fortune in my hands, nor could I permit the least 
suspicion of ingratitude on my part to pass over his 
mind. 

But melancholy as was the recollection of this duty to 
which I had resigned myself, I must confess that, after 
all, this impression was but a fugitive one. I no longer 
attempted to struggle against the temptation to a com- 
promise, by means of which I had determined to recon- 
cile my passion for Kondjé-Gul with my marital duties 
to Anna Campbell. The retiring nature of the latter 
would surely permit our union to be treated as one of 
those arrangements known as mariages de convenance , 
and my charming romantic connection with Kondjé-Gul 


284 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


would always remain a secret. Moreover, my uncle, 
should he ever discover this after-match of my oriental 
life, was certainly not the man to he seriously scan- 
dalised at it, directly he assured himself that “the 
respectabilities ” had not been violated. 

By-the-bye, I should tell you that was a false alarm I 
sounded about my uncle ! I calumniated him when I 
believed him to have committed anything so shocking 
as a double adultery. 

We went again yesterday to the forest of Meudon, 
which we had almost given up visiting of late, my uncle 
having been engaged for the last fortnight upon “ some 
important morning business,” as he says. Well, we 
arrived at Villebon’s restaurant, our usual destination. 
When we entered that celebrated room — empty this 
time — which had been the scene of the drama which you 
remember, the latter came back very naturally to our 
memory, and would have done so even without the 
superfluous aid of the grins with which our waiter 
greeted us. Equally naturally, and as becomes a 
dutiful nephew, who does not wish to appear indifferent 
to family matters, I, seeing my uncle cast a glance 
towards the window near which the incident that pro- 
duced such momentous consequences occurred, took the 
opportunity of asking after my pseudo-aunt Christina, 
about whom I had not had any previous chance of 
questioning him. 

“ Christina ! ” exclaimed Barbassou-Pasha, “ why, 
she’s gone back ! ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


285 


“ Dear me ! I thought she wanted to settle in 
Paris?” 

His eye lightened up with a sly look. 

“ Oh, yes ! She would have liked to do so very well,” 
he replied. “In fact, we made the round of the uphol- 
sterers’ shops, — and she fancied, up to the last moment, 
that it was all settled. But I had made up my mind, 
and I sent her back to Jean Bonaffé.” 

“ The deuce you did !” I said, quite astonished at the 
news. 

Then my uncle just closed one of his eyes, and looked 
at me out of the other, as he added — 

“You see, I was not sorry to return that rascal the 
little trick he played me before ! ” 

And, with that, Barbas sou- Pasha began to whistle 
a hunting song, with all the calm complacency of an 
honest soul on satisfactory terms with his neighbour. I 
accompanied him whistling the bass, and we got on very 
well together that time. 

I believe that after this explanation, you will at once 
renew the esteem which you used to accord to my uncle, 
and will join me in a sincere expression of regret for 
having suspected him for one moment in this matter : 
— in which, in reality, he had merely played the part of 
an avenging deity, punishing sinners with remorse by 
recalling to them the blisses of their lost Paradise. 
And I am ready to testify that he has spared no expense; 
for during the last three weeks he has had from me 
more than twenty thousand francs in pocket-money. I 
warrant you he has given his fair friend a jolly time of 


236 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


it, purposely holding the golden cup to her faithless lips, 

and letting them taste of all the pleasures 

The severe lesson of an abrupt return to her husband, 
Jean Bonaffé, after the awakening of such delightful 
anticipations, will certainly impress the guilty one, 
and engrave in her heart a keen remorse for her past 
misconduct. 




CHAPTER XIII. ' 

1 » * 

We have been four months at Paris without 
anything to disturb the happy life which we ' ' *1 
have led, secure from all suspicions. Nothing 
can be more original or sweeter than this love con v 
cealed from all prying eyes, the exquisite pleasures ^ 
of which you can imagine. Kondjé, delighted * j 
with her triumphs, plays everywhere her part of 
enchantress. * 

My romance is, however, complicated by a cir- 
cumstance which I must at once relate to you. 

You will not have forgotten that my aunt had seen 
Kondjé-Gul at Baroness de Yilleneuve’s party, and that 


238 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


she conceived a great liking for her. Their friendship 
having been cemented during several parties at the 
commodore’s, where they met each other, my aunt very 
naturally invited Madame Murrah and her daughter 
to dinner one evening. She is fond of young people, as 
you know; and Suzannah, Maud, and Kondjé-Gul 
formed such a charming trio, that she soon insisted on 
their coming to dine with her every Thursday. Indeed, 
Kondjé has frequently met Anna Campbell there, for 
the latter has leave out from her convent twice a month. 
The consequence was, we became in time so completely 
involved in intimate relations together, that it would have 
been imprudent to make any break in them : moreover, 
Kondjé-Gul was so very happy and so proud of this 
intimacy which allied her still more closely with me ! 
All of them were charmed with her ; even my uncle, 
who, delighted at the opportunity of conversing with 
her in Turkish, treated her with quite a display of 
gallantry. 

Among the constant visitors at our house, I should 
have mentioned Count Daniel Kiusko, a fabulously rich 
young Slav, the owner of platinum mines in the Krapacks 
mountains, and in the forests of Bessarabia. This being 
his first visit to Paris, I found myself selected to act as 
his guide or bear-leader, and to introduce him to our 
gay world. It was a simple enough task, for that matter, 
since I had hardly anything to do but to present him in 
society. 

He was tall, slenderly built, and a fine specimen of 
the young boyard, with that determined expression of 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


239 


countenance which suggests a habit of acting and being 
obeyed as the feudal lord. In less than a week, with the 
most lofty recklessness, he had thrown away half a 
million francs in the club at baccarat, and his other 
doings are all in the same vein. With such a start, you 
may be sure he has taken the world by storm, so that 
his friendship is sought after as a prize. A successful 
duel which he fought with a Brazilian made his repu- 
tation as a skilful swordsman. 

His gratitude to me, and a sort of frank admiration 
of superior qualities, which he fancies he recognises in 
me, have won for me his friendship. I have quite 
become “his guide, philosopher, and friend.” I find 
him a capital companion, and, like some modern Damon 
and Pythias, we hardly pass a day without seeing 
one another. At first he was rather surprised that I 
abstained from the promiscuous pleasures of the gay 
world ; hut he soon divined that I was restrained by the 
spell of a secret passion, and this placed me still higher 
in his estimation. 

I gained credit with Kiusko by taking him into 
my confidence, and telling him that I had in truth a 
liaison with a young widow, whose high position in 
society demanded extreme prudence on my part. With 
the tact of a thorough-bred gentleman, he never referred 
to the subject again. Being himself associated with us 
in our relations with the Montagues, through meeting 
them at my aunt’s, he would never dream of my having 
any attachment in that quarter ; indeed, he was now 


240 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


almost on an equal footing of friendship with me in our 
intercourse with the fair trio, and was spoken of as one 
of their “ tame cats.” Such was the position of things 
when the following event occurred. 

It happened a few days ago. I was in my aunt’s 
boudoir, talking about some matter, which I forget; 
she was knitting away at a little piece of ornamental 
work, with her usual business-like industry, and I was 
playing with her dog “ Music,” a young animal from 
Greece. 

“ By the bye, André,” she said, “ I have an important 
commission to discharge, concerning which I must 
consult you.” 

“ All my wisdom is at your service, aunt.” 

“Let us talk seriously,” she continued; “you have 
to undergo a regular cross-examination, and I command 
you to reply like an obedient nephew.” 

“ Oh, you frighten me ! ” 

“ Don’t interrupt me, please. In my person you see 
before you a family council.” 

“ What, all at once, and without any preparation ? — 
without even changing your dress ? ” 

“ You impertinent boy, do you mean to say this does 
not suit me?” 

“ On the contrary, I find it quite bewitching.” 

“ Well, then ? ” 

“ All right, I ought not to have interrupted you.” 

“Very well ! let us resume — let me see, what was 
I saying ? ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


241 


“ That in that handsome dark violet velvet dress you 
represent the grandmother of the family.” 

“Just so, you’re quite right ! Now, attention please ! 
The trial has commenced, be on your guard.” 

“ Eight you are ! ” 

“ Well, what do you think of Mademoiselle Kondjè- 
Gul Murrah? ” she asked me point blank, looking me 
straight in the face. 

This question was so unexpected that I felt myself 
blush like a girl of sixteen. 

“ Why,” I answered, “ I think her — most charm- 
ing and beautiful.” 

“ That’s right ! Pray don’t alarm yourself, my dear 
young man ! ” continued my aunt with a smile. 

“ Oh, I’m not the least alarmed ! ” 

“ That’s quite clear ! — Well, you admit that you find 
her most charming and beautiful. Let us proceed. 
What is your present position with regard to her? 
Tell me the whole truth, and mind don’t keep anything 
back. 

I had found time to recover my self-possession. 

“Take care,” I said, laughing in my turn; “this 
question of yours may lead us much further than you 
imagine.” 

“ That’s all nonsense. Don’t try to turn off my 
questions with jokes, and please leave my dog’s ear 
alone ! If you pull it about like that, you’ll make it 
grow crooked. There, that’ll do ! Now, answer me 
seriously, and with all the respect which you ought to 
feel in speaking of a young lady like Kondjé-Gul Murrah.” 


242 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


I was inspired with the brilliant idea of making game 
of her. 

“ Must I tell you the whole truth ? ” I replied. “Do 
you really require to know it ? ” 

“I demand it,” she said, “in its naked, unsophisti- 
cated reality.” 

“All right, aunt ! you shall have it ; ” I said, in a 
confident tone. “ I suppose you know that Mademoiselle 
Kondjé-Gul is a Circassian. Well, she belongs to my 
harem ; I bought her at Constantinople eight months 
ago.” 

My aunt split her sides with laughter. 

“ There now ! ” she exclaimed ; “ what ever is the 
use of expecting a word of sense from a lunatic like 
you?” 

“ You asked me for the truth, and I have told it to 
you !” I replied, laughing secretly at the trick I was 
playing her. 

“Leave off talking rubbish! Can’t you understand, 
you silly boy, that I am speaking to you about Kondjé- 
Gul because I can see how the land lies ? It is quite 
clear to me that between you two there is some sort of 
secret understanding ; now what is it ? I know nothing 
about it, but however innocent this mystery may be, I 
see too much danger about it not to caution you. 
Mademoiselle Murrah is not one of those drawing-room 
dolls with whom it is safe for a man to risk a little of 
his heart in the game of flirtation ; no, the man who 
once falls in love with her will love her for ever, body 
and soul, he will be bewitched.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 243 

“ Why, then, she must be Circe herself,” I exclaimed : 
“ it’s a terrible look-out for me ! ” 

“Oh, you need not laugh,” she continued: “your 
lofty philosophical contempt would not serve you in the 
least. A beautiful sorceress like that girl is all the 
more dangerous because her own heart is liable to be 
kindled by the flames of her incantations. In her heart 
slumber passions which will devour her some day, both 
her and the man she loves. That is why I am reading 
you this lecture, with the object of warning you in time, 
before your youthful recklessness has carried you too far 
in this affair ; especially as you are already betrothed to 
another.” 

Notwithstanding the semi-j ocular manner which my 
aunt had preserved throughout this lecture, I could 
easily perceive that she was seriously alarmed on my 
behalf. I therefore abandoned my jesting tone, assuring 
her that neither my imagination nor my heart were 
in the smallest danger with Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul 
Murrah, and that “ no change whatever would be made 
in our present relations.” This jesuitical reply appeared 
to satisfy her. 

“In that case,” she continued, “I may set to work 
to get her married ? ” 

“ Get her married ?” I exclaimed in astonish- 
ment. 

“ Certainly. Did I not tell you, before I began ques- 
tioning you, that I had an important commission to dis- 
charge ? My young cousin Kiusko adores her, he has 
begged me to see Madame Murrah on his behalf, and I 


244 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


expect to call on her this very day, to set this important 
business in train.” 

Although I might have long ago foreseen the conse- 
quences of emancipating Kondjé-Gul from her harem 
life, and the conflict which it would involve me in with 
our social customs, I must admit that this revelation of 
my aunt’s intentions caused me no small anxiety. 
Kondjé’s remarkable beauty created too much sensation 
in the world for me to hope that rivals would not turn 
up in large numbers, against whom I should have to 
defend myself. Her personal independence, the wealth 
which her mother’s establishment indicated, and her 
youth, all seemed to leave the field open to sanguine 
hopes, and to attempts to win her hand, to the open 
acknowledgment of which no obstacle appeared. Never- 
theless, well prepared as I was for such attempts, and 
fully expecting to witness them, I was very much affected 
by the news that Kiusko was my rival. It was impos- 
sible for me to doubt that his determination to marry 
Kondjé-Gul was the result of reflection as well as of 
love, and that it would be only strengthened by any 
obstacle. Of a calm and energetic nature, endowed with 
an iron will, and accustomed to see everything submit 
to his law, he had also preserved that freshness of the 
affections which would be intensified by the impulses of 
a first love. 

All the same, and notwithstanding my friendship for 
him, I certainly could not think of explaining to him 
the strange situation in which he had in his ignorance 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


245 


placed himself. To proclaim Kondjé-Gul to be my 
mistress would be to banish her ‘from the society into 
which she had won her way : it would have wounded her 
spirit to the quick and determined her degradation, 
without reason or advantage either for Kiusko or for 
myself. Moreover, did I not owe a stricter fidelity to 
her than to this friend of yesterday ? 

I resolved accordingly to keep my counsel, and wait 
upon events. I felt too confident of regulating them in 
my own interests to be afraid of the consequences. 
However, I was surprised by an incident which at first 
seemed insignificant. Having been informed of my 
aunt’s projected visit to Kondjé’s mother, I went to her 
the same evening, thinking that she would at once tell 
me about it, but she said nothing. I thought, of course, 
that some obstacle had occurred which had deferred my 
aunt’s negotiations. 

The next day, without seeming to attach any import- 
ance to the matter, I questioned my aunt about it. She 
informed me that she had been to Madame Murrah’s 
the day before. 

“Did you commence your overtures on behalf of 
Kiusko’s grand scheme ?” I asked her. 

“Yes,” she answered. 

“And — were they entertained ? ” 

“ Oh, you are going too fast ! According to Mus- 
sulman usage, matters don’t proceed at that rate. We 
did not get any further than the preliminaries. I 
explained our amorous friend’s eager anxiety, and the 
next step is to consult Kondjé-Gul.” 


246 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Meanwhile, does the mother appear favourable to 
your request ? ” 

“ It was not her duty to declare herself at the first 
interview,” said my aunt. “ She has, as you know, all 
the fatalistic composure of her race; still, when I 
described Daniel’s fortune, I fancied she listened to me 
with some approval.” 

“Did she tell you what dowry she could give her 
daughter.” 

“ Dowry ! are you mad ? We talked in Turkish and 
discussed the matter in the Turkish way. I think I 
should have surprised her exceedingly if I had given her 
the idea that I was asking, not only for Kondjé-Gul 
herself, but for some pecuniary remuneration to the 
noble Kiusko for taking her. That would have been 
sufficient to upset all her ideas, for don’t you know that 
in the East it is the husband, on the contrary, who 
always makes a present to the parents of the girl he 
wants to have ? This arrangement, by the way, seems 
to me more chivalrous and more manly. Kiusko, for 
that matter, cares about as much for money as for a 
straw : he loves her, and that is enough for him.” 

I took good care not to disturb the illusive hopes 
which my aunt had already conceived. Being re- 
assured by the manner in which Madame Murrah had 
played her part, it only remained for me to determine 
the time and the form of refusal best adapted to the 
circumstances. 

While I was in the midst of these reflections, Count 
Kiusko came in, like any familiar friend, without being 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


247 


announced. He held out his hand to me with more 
than his usual cordiality. By his happy looks I judged 
that he had already had a word of encouragement from 
my aunt, and that he had come to learn in detail the 
result of her first attempt. Not wishing to disturb their 
interview, I pretended after a minute or two that I had 
some letters to write, and left them. 

The following morning I was only just out of bed 
when Kiusko came up with his spurs on. We had 
decided the day before to ride together to the Bois. As 
he usually went to the rendezvous by himself, I guessed 
that to-day he wanted to appear to have been taken there 
by me, in order to cover his embarrassment, or perhaps 
his bashfulness when he met Kondjé-Gul. Having 
made up my mind to avoid all confidences, I kept my 
valet in the room with me, dressing myself very delibe- 
rately, and without any compassion for Kiusko’s impa- 
tience. This compelled us, directly we were mounted, 
to gallop to the Bois, a procedure not very favourable to 
confidential effusions. 

We only joined the party at the Avenue of Acacias on 
their way back. I took care to watch Kiusko as he 
saluted Kondjé-Gul. He blushed and stammered out a 
compliment addressed collectively to all the three girls. 
Kondjé’s countenance betrayed nothing more than the 
flush produced by her ride. We started off in two sepa- 
rate parties. From motives of discretion, I suppose, 
Kiusko remained behind with Suzannah and the com- 
modore. Edward and I had gone in front with Kondjé- 
Gul and Maud, who was quarrelling with her cousin 


248 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


upon the important question, as to whether we should 
gallop straight ahead or make a round between the 
trees. Kondjé-Gul decided the matter by suddenly 
entering the cover. 

“ Who loves me, let him follow me!” she said, with 
a laugh. 

I followed her, and in a few moments we found our- 
selves side by side. 

“ Oh, such a fine piece of news ! ” she said to me, as 
soon as Maud and Edward, who were behind us, were 
out of hearing. 

“ What is it? ” I asked. 

“ Well, I must tell you that the day before yesterday 
your aunt came to see my mother while I was away, and 
there and then formally requested my hand in marriage 
for the noble Count Daniel Kiusko. My mother related 
this to me this morning, when I got up.” 

“ And what did you answer her ? ” 

“Oh, I laughed at first, and then I told mamma 
that she must inform you at once, so that you may 
decide upon the manner in which she shall repulse the 
enemy.” 

“ That’s simple enough,” said I. “ She has only to 
tell my aunt, when next she calls, that she has consulted 
you.” 

“ Is it as simple as that ? ” 

“ Certainly,” I said, with a feeling of annoyance at 
the idea that she knew of Daniel’s love. “Is it not 
solely your will that has to be consulted? ” 

Kondjé-Gul regarded me with astonishment. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


249 


“ My will ?” she said. “ Good heavens ! do you love 
me no longer ? ” 

“ Why should you imagine I love you no longer ?” I 
answered. 

“ One might suppose that you wished to remind me 
of that horrible liberty which I am so much afraid 
of.” 

I then realised how stupid and abrupt I had been, and 
asked her forgiveness. 

“You naughty fellow!” she said, pointing to the 
golden bracelet clasped round her arm. 

We decided that I should go to her mother to concert 
with her and dictate to her the precise terms of a refusal 
which should cut short all Kiusko’s hopes. We were 
just then emerging from the narrow avenue, and Maud 
and Edward were joining us again. Our ride came to 
an end without any other incident of note, except indeed 
that it appeared to me Daniel was watching Kondjé 
and myself, as if he wanted to guess what had taken 
place during our tête-à-tête , which he had observed 
from a distance. I troubled myself no further 
about this, but made up my mind to take mea- 
sures that very day to put an end to this stupid 
adventure. 

About three o’clock I went to Téral House, and in 
an interview with Kondjé-Gul’s mother drew up the 
precise terms of her answer to my aunt, which con- 
sisted of a formula usually employed on similar occa- 
sions. 

“ Mademoiselle Kondjé- Gul feels greatly flattered by 


250 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


the honour which Count Daniel Kiusko has intended to 
confer upon her, but is unable to accept it.” To this 
we added, in order to convince him it was not one of 
those half- decisive answers which he might hope to 
overcome: “She desires to inform their friend confi- 
dentially that her heart is no longer free, and that she 
is engaged to one of her relations.” This partly-confi- 
dential answer possessed the merits of a candid com- 
munication, after receiving which no honourable man 
could press her without giving offence. Moreover, it 
established a definite status, under which Kondjé-Gul 
could shelter herself for the future from all importunate 
attempts on the part of my rival. 






CHAÇ^EE XI Y. 


You are returning once more, my dear Louis, 
to your favourite occupation of knocking down, 
skittles which you have set up yourself, and are 
trying to exercise your humorous spirit at my 
expense. 

You tell me that my Oriental system of life crumbles 
away upon contact with the hard world, and with those 
sentiments which I venture to class among the antiquated 
prejudices of a worn-out civilisation. 

You do not perceive, you subtle scoffer, that every one 
of your arguments can be turned against you to establish 
the superiority of the customs of the harem. Can’t you 
see that all these mishaps, these troubles, and these 
outbursts of jealousy, which you have intentionally 
magnified, originate solely in Kondjé- Gul’s émancipa- 


252 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


tion from the harem, and that none of them would have 
occurred if I had not departed from Turkish usages ? 
Consider on the one hand the tranquillity of my amours 
with Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé, my easy life with 
them, as a poet and a sultan, secure from all annoying 
rivalries, and on the other hand look at these difficulties 
and contests arising all at once out of our social 
conventionalities. 

I do not really know why I should waste any more 
time discussing the question with you. 

Being now confident that after the declaration which 
Madame Murrah would next day make to my aunt, 
Kondjé-Gul would be freed henceforth from the impor- 
tunities of Count Kiusko, I soon recovered my peace of 
mind. I entertained no doubts as to the effect which 
such a decisive answer would produce upon Daniel. I 
knew that he was too deeply in love not to feel the 
blow severely. 

I expected, accordingly, to hear that he was mourning 
in some secluded retreat over his lost hopes. For him 
to see Kondjé-Gul again after such an unqualified refusal 
would only revive his sorrows and cause him more 
suffering. More than this, it would place her in an 
uncomfortable position since his declaration of love to 
her. But while I was convincing myself as to this 
necessity for him to break off his relations with her, 
great was my surprise at seeing him reappear among us 
the following day as calm as ever, and just as if no un- 
pleasant incident had befallen him. Time went on, and 
still there was no change in this respect. One might 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


253 


even have said, to judge from his easy demeanour and 
from a certain increase of assurance in his manner, that 
he felt confident in the future success of his endeavours, 
and was only waiting for the happy moment when his 
aspirations would be realized. 

I could not help being puzzled by this remarkable 
result of a decided rejection of his suit, hut as I had so 
plainly avoided my rival’s confidences in my embarrass- 
ment at the part I was playing, I could not now attempt 
to regain them. I began to suspect that Kondjé-Gul’s 
mother had rehearsed her part imperfectly, and at last 
made up my mind to question my aunt discreetly on this 
point. 

“ By the by, my dear aunt,” I said to her one morn- 
ing in a perfectly unconcerned tone of voice, “you have 
not told me anything more about Kiusko’s intended 
marriage.” 

“Ah, there is no longer any question of it!” she 
answered me. “ He presented himself too late : the fail 
Kondjé-Gul’s heart is occupied. She is even engaged 
to one of her own relations I hear.” 

“ Then he seems to me to he hearing his disappoint 
ment very easily.” 

“ Oh, don’t he too sure about that ! Daniel is not one 
of those whining lovers who publish their lamentations 
to the whole world. He loves her, as I could see by his 
sudden paleness when I announced to him the definite 
rejection of his offer ; hut he has an iron will, and you 
may be certain that if he is so calm, that only shows 
he still cherishes some hope. As for me, I won’t believe 


254 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


in Kondjé-Gul’ s marriage with her cousin, until I see 
them coming out of church together.” 

Now although it was of small consequence to me that 
Kiusko, in his robust faith, still preserved a remnant of 
hope, I must admit that I felt somewhat aggravated by 
his presumptuous pertinacity. As he had formally 
declared his love, Kondjé-Gul could not henceforth feign 
to ignore it. There w r as an offensive kind of imperti- 
nence to her about that coolness of his, which affected 
to take no account of an engagement o*f which she had 
informed him as a justification for her refusal. However 
reserved he might be, and even if he never betrayed by 
a single word the secret feeling which he concealed so 
carefully during our intercourse as friends, it would be 
impossible for me not to feel the constraint of such a 
situation. So far as he was concerned, it did not seem 
to trouble him in the least. This demeanour, and this 
insolent confidence of his — such as might be expected in 
a petty feudal tyrant — irritated me inexpressibly; but 
an incident occurred, at first sight insignificant, which 
diverted the current of my suspicions into quite a 
different channel. 

One morning, about ten o’clock, I w r as accompanying 
my aunt upon one of her rounds of visiting the poor. 
As w r e happened to be passing Count Téral’s house, I 
was very much surprised to see Daniel coming out of it. 
What had he been doing there ? This was Kondjé- 
Gul’ s lesson time, and certainly not the time of day for 
callers. This discovery put me into a state of agitation 
which it was extremely difficult for me to avoid showing. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


255 


I reflected, however, that it was quite possible Maud or 
Suzannah had entrusted him with a message or with 
some book, which he had come to deliver. How- 
ever that might be, I wanted to clear up the mystery. 
When half-way down the Champs Elysées, I pretended 
to have an order to give to a coachmaker, and leaving 
my aunt to return home alone, I went back to Téral 
House. 

As I had anticipated, Kondjé-Gul was shut up with 
her music-mistress. I sent up my name in the ordinary 
way, and was immediately introduced. 

“ What ! is it you ? ” she said, pretending before her 
mistress to be surprised at such an early visit. “Have 
yen come to play a duet with me?” 

“ No,” I answered, “ I was passing by this way, and 
I will only trouble you long enough to find out if you 
have formed any plans for to-day with your friends the 
Montagues.” 

“ None,” she replied, “beyond that they are expecting 
me at three o’clock.” 

“ Then they did not send you any message this 
morning ? ” 

“No. Has anything happened?” she added in 
Turkish. 

“Nothing whatever,” I replied, with a laugh. “My 
aunt brought me this way, so I thought I would come 
and say good morning to you.” 

“ How kind and nice of you ! ” she said, with evident 
warmth. 

She had not left her piano, and I remained standing, 


256 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


so as to show that I had only called on my way, to 
receive her orders. I shook hands with her, saying that 
I did not wish to interrupt her lessons any more, and 
took my departure. 

It was evident that Kondjé knew nothing about 
Daniel’s visit. On my way out I spoke to Fanny, and 
gave her some instructions, telling her that I was going 
to send some flowers. This girl was quite devoted to 
me, and her discretion might he perfectly relied upon. 
However, as I did not wish her to think that I was 
questioning her about her mistress, I asked her in an 
indifferent manner if the count had not brought any- 
thing for me. 

“ I don’t know, sir,” she answered. “ The count 
came an hour ago, but he told me to send in his name 
to Mademoiselle Kondjé’s mother, who was expecting 
him, I think, and who ordered me to show him into the 
small drawing-room, where she went to see him. When 
he left, he said nothing to me.” 

“ Did he say nothing to Pierre ?” I added. 

“ Pierre was not in, sir,” replied Fanny. “ The 
count only spoke to Madame Murrah.” 

“ Ah, very well !” I said, carelessly. 

These inquiries had led me to a curious discovery. 
What was the meaning of this private interview between 
Kondjé’s mother and Daniel? Determined to get to 
the bottom of this mystery, I went up without any more 
ado to Madame Murrah’s private sitting-room. She 
did not appear surprised, from which I concluded that 
she knew I was in the house, and was prepared to see 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


257 


me. For my part I pretended to have come to settle 
some details connected with the house and the stables, 
for I was obliged to assist her in the management of 
all her domestic affairs. She listened to what I said 
with that deferential sort of smile which she invariably 
assumes with me. When she was quite absorbed in 
the calculations which I had submitted, I said to her 
all at once : 

“ By the way, what did Count Kiusko come here for 
so early in the day ? ” 

I thought I noticed her face redden, but this was only 
a transient impression. 

“The count ?” she answered, in a most profoundly 
surprised tone. “I did not see him ! Has he been 
here ? ” 

“ Why, Fanny showed him in here/’ I replied, “ and 
you have spoken to him.” 

“Ah, yes! this morning ,” she exclaimed sharply, 
and with emphasis on these words. “ Goodness me, 
what a poor head I have ! I thought you said yesterday 
evening . I understand French so badly, you know. 
Yes, yes, he has been here. The poor young man is 
off his head. This is the second time he has been here 
to beg me for KondjA-Gul’s hand. He is quite crazy ! 
crazy ! ” 

“ Oh, then he has been before ! But why did not 
you inform me?” 

“ It is true : I had forgotten to do so ! ” she replied. 

I deemed it useless to appear to press her any more 
on the matter. Had Madame Murrah tried to keep me 


258 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


in ignorance of these visits of Count Kiusko’s ? Or 
was this merely a proof, or the contrary, of the slight 
importance which she attached to them ? In any case, 
for me to let her see my distrust in her would only put 
her on her guard. So I broke off the subject, and 
resumed my household instructions, as if I had remarked 
nothing more important in this matutinal incident than 
the stupid pertinacity of a discomfited lover. A 
quarter of an hour afterwards I took my leave of her in 
quite a jaunty way. 

Once out of the house, I considered the matter over 
calmly, and made my reflections upon it. Had I, by 
accident, stumbled upon a plot, or was my jealous mind 
alarmed without occasion by a foolish attempt which 
Kondjé-Gul’s mother could not avert ? Accustomed as 
she was to a sort of passive submission, had she allowed 
herself to be cowed by a man who spoke in the tone of a 
master ? Was it not possible that, in her embarrass- 
ment with the part she had to play, she* had let out 
rather more than was prudent? Was anything more 
than this necessary in order to explain Daniel’s con- 
duct ? 

Without any kind of scruple Kiusko brought to the 
contest all the savage energy of a will constituted to 
bend everything before it. The choice of instruments 
was a matter of small importance to a man of his nature, 
the incompleteness of whose education had left him 
scarcely half-civilized. Accustomed to have all his own 
way, he made straight for his object, rushing like a bull 
at every obstacle. The suppleness of his Slavonic 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


259 


character displayed itself in this desperate game, in 
which the happiness of his life was at stake. He loved 
Kondjé-Gul, as I knew full well, with that blind love 
which admitted no compromise with reason. With the 
mother as his ally, he no doubt conjectured that the 
marriage would be brought about in accordance with 
Turkish custom without Kondjé-Gul being consulted. 

My first idea was to interfere violently and so frustrate 
this plot, hut enlightened upon those manoeuvres, which 
afforded me an explanation of Daniel’s incredible con- 
stancy after the repulse which he had sustained, I could 
see the folly of any provocation on my part, and the con- 
sequent danger of injuring Kondjé-Gul and perhaps 
creating a scandal. Henceforth I hold the threads of 
these underhand intrigues : I am about to catch my 
rival in his own trap and mislead him as much as I 
please. 

These reflections calmed me a little. After all, would 
it not be insane for me to lose my temper about a rivalry 
which, all said and done, was only one of the innumer- 
able incidents which I had foreseen as consequences of 
Kondjé-Gul’s beauty? Such beauty would of course 
attract passionate admiration wherever she went. Good 
heavens ! what would become of me if I took any more 
notice of Kiusko than of the rest of them ? Besides, 
being informed now of all his movements, I was in a 
position to intervene whenever it became necessary to 
put an end to his hostile projects. 


260 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


A great worry Las come upon me, my friend. 

I must tell you that there are some barracks in the 
Rue de Babylone ; from which it follows that a great 
many officers lodge in the vicinity. Moreover, the garden 
of my house, although enclosed by a wall on the boule- 
vard side, is not sufficiently screened to prevent daring 
eyes from peering into it from various neighbouring 
windows. 

Now, as a few days of sunshine had favoured us with 
very mild weather, my houris did not fail to go and 
stroll about the lawns. Naturally enough they attracted 
the attention of some indiscreet persons whose curiosity 
had been quickened by the apparent mystery of this 
closed house, and by all the gossip in the neighbourhood 
about “the Turk.” It also happens that the house 
adjoining mine is tenanted by the colonel, whence it 
results that from morn to eve, there is a constant coming 
and going of sergeant-majors, lieutenants and captains, 
who rival one another in casting fascinating glances upon 
this corner of Mahomet’s paradise. 

I must do my houris the justice to say that they 
do not show themselves unveiled ; still I will leave you to 
imagine the agitation which they cause among the whole 
regimental staff. 

All this was certainly but an inconvenience which 
pure chance threw in my way, amid my methodical expe- 
riments with the new manners and customs of which I 
wish to show the superiority. It would not have been 
fitting for a sincere psychologist to convert a purely 
adventitious difficulty into a defeat ; and the removal of 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


261 


my harem would have furnished a specious argument 
for some detractor of my doctrines who would not have 
failed to seize hold of this slight practical obstacle in 
order to raise a controversy. Then, too, I should have 
been violating human dignity and confessing the fragility 
of my system of social renovation if I had so lowered 
myself as to completely sequestrate the women after the 
fashion of some vile Asiatic satrap. 

To be brief, I stood firm; and I conscientiously 
instructed Mohammed, who was already alarmed, not 
to interfere with the freedom of their diversions in the 
garden. 

Being confident in the healthy effects of an application 
of the immortal principles, I had ceased to busy myself 
about this affair, when, as I arrived in the evening 
three days ago, I saw Mohammed hasten to me, looking 
scared. With signs of acute emotion, he begged of me 
to hear him privately, having an important communication 
to make. 

I entered his room where I invited him to unbosom 
himself. 

He then informed me — in a tone of genuine despair, 
I will admit — that the honour of the harem and also 
his own were terribly compromised. In point of fact, 
he had during the day surprised Zouhra at her window 
corresponding by signs with a young and superb noble- 
man who had come to one of the windows of the neigh- 
bouring house. This audacious lover, judging by his 
military uniform, bedizened with gold lace, must at the 
least be a muchir or general. 


262 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Had a thunderbolt fallen at Mohammed’s feet it cer- 
tainly would not have caused him greater consternation. 
The unfortunate fellow did not seem to doubt for one 
moment what punishment awaited him. But I reas- 
sured him, for as you may well suppose, with my system 
this useless practice is destined to disappear as being 
superfluous : the dignified position of eunuch not being 
compatible with our laws. However, under the circum- 
stances, I did not think that I could dispense with open- 
ing a serious inquiry concerning this offence which, 
according to Mohammed, had been perpetrated repeatedly 
for some days past. Even letters, thrown over the walls, 
had been exchanged. 

On the morrow then, I repaired to the house before 
the hour usually selected for this correspondence, and 
placing myself on the upper floor, I waited, screened by 
a curtain, thanks to which I could watch the manoeuvres 
of the accomplices, at my ease. Mohammed was moan- 
ing like a fallen man, deprived of his grandeur and 
dishonoured. I soon saw Zouhra appear, charmingly 
adorned and carrying a nosegay in her hand ; hut the 
other window, which had been indicated to me, remained 
unoccupied. After ten minutes or so she became restless 
and began to pace up and down her room in a way that 
conclusively proved her impatience. 

Provided with a good opera-glass I carefully watched 
her goings-on. 

Nearly half an hour elapsed. There was still nobody 
at the other window. Mohammed, who became more 
and more downcast, was beginning to fear that he would 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


263 


be unable to prove to me the full extent of my disgrace, 
when suddenly the swift approach of my houri to her 
window betokened something fresh. She lowered her 
nosegay by way of saluting, and my glasses were at 
once turned to the direction in which she was darting 
her glances. 

On the third floor of the colonel’s house I could see a 
splendid drum-major in full uniform, with large epau- 
lets, his chest bedizened with broad gold braid and his 
hand resting upon his heart. As the room was not 
high enough to accommodate the lofty plume towering 
above his bear-skin, my rival was leaning half out of the 
window, and his tricolour insignium seemed to pierce 
the sky. 

I remained dazzled at the sight of him : he glistened 
like the sun ! 

With Zouhra it had been love at first sight. The 
pantomimic business gradually began on both sides ; on 
the girl’s part it was naïve and still restrained ; on the 
drum-major’s, ardent and passionate, though now and 
then he struck a contemplative attitude. He showed 
her a letter and she showed him another one, which she 
held in readiness. The sight made a flush rise to 
Mohammed’s brow. 

In presence of such avowals doubt was no longer 
possible. The drum-major soon became emboldened 
and raised the tips of his fingers to his lips. His kisses 
journeyed through space ; and then with his hands 
clasped he begged of Zouhra to return them. 

I must confess that the wretched girl defended herself 


264 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


for a few minutes with bashful reserve. But she was so 
pressed and implored that at last I saw her weaken, and 
anxious and hesitating, she yielded. 

I was betrayed ! 

Mohammed sank down, uttering a plaintive moan. 
For my own part I thought of my uncle’s misfortune. 
Was it fate ? 

However, my uncle is not the only man who comes 
from Marseilles; I also come from that city, and 
although I am merely his nephew, I have at times 
enough of his hot disposition to feel as he felt after 
similar strokes of fate. Having been drawn into his 
irregular orbit, passing through the same phases as he 
passed through, I must expect that nothing will ever 
happen to me in the same w r ay as it would happen to 
others, himself excepted. Thus the similarity of our 
adventures — the drum-major in my case taking the place 
of my uncle’s Jean Bonaffé, — ought not to have surprised 
me ; it should have been foreseen like a philosophical 
contingency previously inscribed in the book of destiny. 
And, indeed, to tell the truth, I should have considered 
the slightest departure from the precise law of fate 
illogical. 

However, I was either in a had disposition of mind 
or I had been too suddenly and speedily awakened from 
the presumptuous quietude into which I had sunk, for 
I will admit to you that on thinking over my case, I 
experienced at the moment a singular feeling of astonish- 
ment. 

Horns are like teeth, a witty woman once said : they 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


265 


hurt while they are coming, but afterwards one manages 
to put up with them ! 

True as this remark of an experienced person may 
he, yet haying my own ideas as to these vain appendages 
which I could not prevent from sprouting ; and being, 
moreover, sufficiently provided with proofs which I had 
duly weighed, my first idea was to dart head first 
athwart this intrigue in which my dishonour was a 
certainty. Leaving Mohammed upon the divan where 
he had stranded, I hastened by way of the stairs to the 
guilty creature’s room. 

I softly opened the closed door, stepped gently over 
the carpet, and approached her from behind in time to 
catch her just as she had one hand on her heart and 
the other on her lips. 

She gave a little shriek, while the drum -major, on 
seeing me appear so suddenly, made a gesture of 
despair. Then he drew back with such haste that his 
plume caught against the wall above the window, with 
the result that his bearskin was knocked off, and turning 
a sommer sault fell into the courtyard. 

Zouhra thereupon gave another shriek. 

All this had occurred with the rapidity of a flash of 
lightning. My rival, closing his window, had dis- 
appeared like a jack-in-the-box. 

We were alone. 

“ Ah ! ha ! ” I then said to the unworthy creature, 
“ so this is your conduct ” 

She answered nothing ; she still hoped, no doubt, that 
she would be able to deny the facts, with the brazen 


266 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


assurance of the woman who, although surprised in the 
act, puts on a grand air, and waxes wrathful as at an 
insult. 

“Who was that man up there,” I resumed, “with 
whom you were corresponding ? ” 

“ A man ! ” she finally answered with her strong 
Turkish accent which I will spare you. “ I don’t know 
what you mean — I don’t know any men — I have never 
seen any ! ” 

“ But he was at that window — there.” 

“ Well, what does that prove ? ” she retorted. “ Does 
that concern me ? Can I prevent people from coming 
to their windows ? ” 

“No, but when they are there you might prevent 
yourself from making signs to them ; and especially 
from returning the kisses they send to you.” 

“ Signs, I ? I made signs ! ” she exclaimed. “Ah ! 
that is really too bad ! Who do you take me for 
then?” 

“ Why, I surprised you, and I stayed your hand 
when you had your fingers raised to your lips.” 

“Well, can’t I put my fingers to my lips now? 
What, am I not to have the right to make a gesture, 
without accounting for it, without being insulted ? Did 
any one ever see a woman treated in such an odious 
fashion ? Well, tie me up then ! ” 

You are acquainted with women’s tactics, my dear 
Louis : they are always the same in such cases. I put 
a stop to it all after letting her deny the facts. 

“ Come, come,” I said to her. “ This is not the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


267 


time for you to play the part of a persecuted victim. 
For the last half hour I have been watching you from 
behind those curtains. I saw everything — with my 
opera-glass,” I added, showing her the glass in proof of 
my assertion. 

Struck by this victorious demonstration she stood 
there in consternation. For a moment I enjoyed the 
effect I had produced and then continued : 

“ I saw the letter which he showed you, and the one 
which you have in your pocket — I can still see a bit of 
it peeping out.” 

On hearing this she became very red ; and with 
incredible swiftness drew forth the incriminating missive, 
which she tore into a hundred pieces. 

“ All right,” said I. “It would seem then that you 
had written something very compromising to that 
soldier, whom you have never met and whom you don’t 
know.” 

“ It was a letter for the modiste,” she replied with 
assumed indignation. 

“ Yes, and you no doubt wanted him to deliver it,” I 
retorted in an ironical strain. 

This last hitter dart went home and set her beside 
herself. She assumed a superb attitude. 

“I shall not give you any explanation,” she said. 
“Believe whatever you please. Do whatever you 
choose. As for myself, I know what I have to do now. 
Since I am spied upon and treated in this fashion I 
have had enough of leading such a life — I prefer to put 
an end to it at once ! ” 


268 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ And how do you purpose putting an end to it ? ” I 
resumed. “It will perhaps he necessary to consult me a 
little hit on that subject.” 

“ But you are neither my husband nor my brother, 
my dear fellow,” she exclaimed in the most airy way 
imaginable, “ and I don’t suppose that you are going to 
talk to me any more of those stupid Turkish rights. 
We are in Paris and I know that I am free ! ” 

“ Well, where will your freedom take you ? ” 

“Oh ! don’t worry yourself about me — I should not 
have any trouble to secure a husband. Do you imagine, 
my dear fellow, that I should be embarrassed to find a 
position ? ” 

This characteristic word showed me that she was far 
more completely initiated than I had suspected. 

“And you expect,” I retorted, “to obtain this 
position from that fine nobleman, eh ? ” 

These disdainful words exasperated her ; she lost all 
self-restraint and burnt her ships. 

“ That fine nobleman is a duke ! ” she exclaimed 
vehemently. “ I will not allow you to insult him. And 
since you dare to threaten me, I will tell you that I love 
him and that he adores me, and that he offers to marry 
me and promises me every bliss — ” 

In spite of my misfortune I could not help laughing 
at this fiery indignant declaration to which Zouhra’s 
Turkish accent imparted an irresistibly comic effect. 
My gaiety brought her anger to a climax. 

Frenzied, decided upon everything, she darted to a 
chiffonier, drew out an illuminated card, upon which 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


269 


two doves were pecking one another, and threw it at me 
with a queenly air, exclaiming : 

“ There, my dear fellow you will see if I still have 
any need of you ! 99 

I picked up the card and read what was written 
upon it : 


LEDUC (D’ARPAJON), 
(Drum-Jtfajor of the 79th tfegt. of the Line. 

To the divine ZOUHI^fl — Everlasting Love ! 


It would be useless for me to describe to you the end 
of the scene. 

When I had laughed enough, I allowed myself the 
delightful pleasure of undeceiving my faithless houri by 
explaining to her her unfortunate mistake as to the 
rank of her conqueror, whom she had mentally endowed 
with a fortune in keeping with the height of his plume.* * 
I destroyed her dream of every bliss by reducing it to so 
much bliss as was procurable with a full pay of a franc 
and a half per diem . 

As I made these crushing revelations you might have 
seen her gradually sinking and collapsing, with her 

* Zouhra with her imperfect knowledge of French had concluded 
that Leduc (D’Arpajon) meant “the Duke of Arpajon ” — whereas, in 
reality, Leduc, a single word, was the drum-major’s name ; D’Arpajon 
implying that he came from, or belonged to, the little market town of 
Arpajon, not far from Paris. — Trans. 


270 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


pretty purple lips just parted, and her gazelle’s eyes 
staring with frightened astonishment. She was the 
picture of consternation. 

All at once she darted towards me and abruptly 
caught me in her arms. 

“ Ah ! it is you that I love ! — you that I love ! ” she 
exclaimed in a pathetic tone amid her transports. 

I had some difficulty in releasing myself from her 
passionate embrace ; still I eventually succeeded in 
doing so, but only to confront a fresh crisis of despair, 
whereupon I immediately confided Zouhra to the care of 
her maids. 

Then, without any further explanations, which would 
have been superfluous, I withdrew. 

Of course I am perfectly aware that you will try to 
derive from this mishap some argument intended to 
triumph over my discomfiture. 

I would have you remark, however, that you have no 
right to seize upon a general fact — for infidelity is in- 
herent in woman’s nature — and draw deductions respect- 
ing my particular case. All that you can reasonably 
conclude is that the man who has four wives is bound 
to be deceived four times as often as the man who has 
but one wife. 

That is certainly a weighty argument, I confess. 

However all that may be, my misfortune having been 
made evident to me, and Zouhra being banished from my 
heart, it was necessary that I should come to a decision 
with regard to her. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


271 


The most simple course was to consult my uncle ; his 
own experience in a similar mishap pointed him out as 
the best of advisers. 

He listened to me, stroking his heard with the some- 
what derisive phlegm of a practical man, who is not 
sorry to find that he has some companions in misfortune. 
It even seemed to me that I could detect a touch of 
malicious satisfaction, as if he still resented my conduct 
as an heir. 

When I had finished he quietly remarked : 

“ What an old stupid you are ! You should have let 
her get married without saying anything ! In that way 
you would have saved us the expense of sending her 
back home again.” 

“ Well, unfortunately it’s too late now for that, uncle,” 
I answered. 

To be brief, as the Turkish law does not allow the 
desertion or dismissal of a cadine unless she he provided 
for, Zouhra is to he exiled to Rhodes. The pasha has 
established there for his own use, a kind of Botany Bay, 
which is a place both of retirement and rustication for 
his invalided wives w T ho have lost their freshness with 
age. The place is an old abbey with spacious gardens 
planted with mimosas and orange trees, and was 
purchased by auction for some ten thousand francs. 
The island is delightful, and provisions are to be had 
there for nothing, according to what my uncle tells me. 
Judge for yourself : fowls cost twopence each, and every- 
thing else is to be had at correspondingly low prices. 
There are already eleven women there, and it does not 


272 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


cost more than nine thousand francs a year to keep them 
all on a proper footing, including thé board and wages 
of their servants. 

Find me among our own boasted institutions any one 
to he compared with that of my uncle — an institution 
established to provide for similar contingencies, and tho 
arrangements of which are equally good. 






CHAPTER XV. 


For the last three days that unworthy girl Zouhra 
has been on her way to Rhodes. 

Well, what does that matter ? I admit that I have 
only three wives left, that’s all. And what of that ? Is 
it fitting that you, my dearest friend, should try to make 
me feel ashamed of it ? 

While exercising your facetiousness, it seems to me 
that you especially level your irony at certain other 
worries necessarily occasioned by the position of Kondjé- 
Gul and what you call the wooing of the “ fierce Kiusko.” 
Ye Gods ! so I have a rival. Really, you make me 
laugh ! 

I fancy, however, that all this will inevitably end in a 


274 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


duel between us, which indeed, as time goes on, seems 
to me quite unavoidable. 

One evening when I arrived rather late at Téral 
House by reason of one of those tedious dinners with 
which Anna Campbell’s leaves-out were celebrated, I 
found Kondjé-Gul quite downcast, and her eyes red with 
crying. I had left her a few hours before in the best of 
spirits, and delighted about a pretty little pony which I 
had given her in the morning, and which we had been 
trying. Surprised and alarmed at such a sudden grief 
as she evinced, and which had caused her to shed tears, 
I anxiously questioned her about it. 

Directly I began speaking to her I saw that she wanted 
to conceal from me the cause of her affliction : but I 
pressed her. 

“ No, it’s nothing,” she said, “ only a story which 
mamma told me.” 

But when she tried to smile, a sob broke out from 
her lips, and, bursting into tears, she threw her arm 
round my neck, nestling her head on my hosom. 

“ Good heavens ! what’s the matter, dear ?” I 
exclaimed, quite alarmed. “ Tell me all about it, I 
entreat you. What has happened ? And why are you 
crying like this ? ” 

She could not answer me. Her bosom heaved, and 
she seized my hand and covered it with kisses, as if in 
order to demonstrate her love for me in the midst of her 
distress. 

I succeeded in calming her ; and then, making her 
sit down by my side, with her hands in mine, I pressed 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


275 


her to confess her troubles to me. Her hesitation 
increased my alarm : she turned her eyes away from me, 
and I could see that she feared to reply to me. At last, 
quite frantic with anxiety, I resorted to my marital 
authority. 

Then, with child-like submission, she related to me 
the following strange story, which filled me with 
astonishment. 

After luncheon her mother had joined her in the 
drawing-room, when in the course of a general conver- 
sation she began to speak about their native country 
and their family, and about the pleasure it would be for 
them to revisit them after so long an absence. Kondjé- 
Gul let her go on in this strain, thinking that she was 
just indulging in one of those dreams of a far-off future 
which the imagination is fond of cherishing, however 
impossible their realisation may be. But soon she was 
very much surprised by noticing that her mother was 
discussing this scheme as one which might be carried 
out at an early date. She then questioned her about it. 
At last, after a lot of fencing, Madame Murrah informed 
her that she had learnt a marriage was arranged between 
me and Anna Campbell, who had been betrothed to me 
for a long while past ; also that this marriage would take 
place in six months’ time, and that I should have to go 
away with my wife the day after the wedding. 

The end of all these arrangements would be the 
abandonment of Kondjé-Gul. 

I was dismayed by this unexpected revelation. The 
plan of my marriage with Anna had remained a family 


276 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


secret, known only to my uncle, to herself, to my aunt, 
and to me. How had it got to Madame Murrah’s ears ? 
I was unable to conceal my uneasiness. 

“ But this marriage is true then ? ” continued my 
poor Kondjé with an anxious look in my face. 

“ Nothing is true hut our love !” I replied, distressed 
by her fears ; “ nothing is true but this, that I mean to 
love you always, and always to live with you as I do 
now.” 

“ But this marriage? ” she again repeated. 

It was impossible for me to escape any longer from the 
necessity of making a confession which I had intended 
to have prepared her for later on. 

“ Listen, my darling,” I said, taking her by the 
hands, “ and above all things trust me as you listen to 
me ! I love you, I love no one hut you ; you are my 
wife, my happiness, my life. Do you believe me?” 

“Yes, dear, I believe you. But what about her?” 
she added in a tremble. “ What about Anna Campbell ? 
Are you going to marry her ? ” 

“ Come,” I said, wishing to begin by soothing her 
fears ; “if, as so often happens in your own country, I 
were obliged, if only in order to assure our own happi- 
ness, to make another marriage, would not you under- 
stand that this was only a sacrifice which I owed to my 
uncle if he required it of me — a family arrangement, in 
fact, which could not separate us from each other? 
What have you to fear so long as I only love you ? Did 
you trouble yourself about Hadidjé or Zouhra ? ” 

“ Oh, but they were not Christians ! Anna Campbell 


LOVE IN A HAREM 277 

would be your real wife; and your religion and laws 
would enjoin you to love her.” 

“ No,” I exclaimed, “ neither my religion nor my laws 
could change my heart or undo my love for you. It is 
my duty to protect your life and make it a happy one ; 
for are not you also my wife ? Why should you alarm 
yourself about an obligation of mine which, if we lived 
in your country, would not disturb your confidence in 
me ? Anna Campbell is not really in love with me : we 
are only like two friends, prepared to unite with each 
other in a conventional union, such as you may see 
many a couple around us enter upon — an association 
of fortunes, in which the only personal sentiments 
demanded are reciprocal esteem. My dear girl, what is 
there to be jealous of ? Don’t you know that you will 
always be everything to me ? ” 

Poor Kondjé-Gul listened to these Bomewhat strange 
projects without the least idea of opposing them. Still 
under the yoke of her native ideas, those Oriental pre- 
judices in which she had been brougho up were too 
deeply grafted in her mind to permit of her being 
rapidly converted by acquaintance with our sentiments 
and usages — very illogical as they often appeared to 
her mind — to a different view of woman’s destiny. 
According to her laws and her religion, I was her master. 
She could never have entertained the possibility of her 
refusing to submit to my will ; but I could see by the 
tears in her eyes that this very touching submission and 
resignation on her part was simply due to her devoted 
self-control, and that she suffered cruelly by it. 

“ Come, why do you keep on crying ?” I continued, 


278 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


drawing her into my arms. “ Bo you doubt my love, 
dear ? ” 

“Oh, no!” she replied quickly. “How could I 
mistrust you ? ” 

“ Well, then, away with those tears ! ” 

“Yes,” she said, giving me a kiss, “you are right, 
dear : I am very silly ! What can you expect of me ? 
I am still half a barbarian, and am rather bewildered 
with all I have learnt from you. There are still some 
things in my nature which I can’t understand. Why it 
is that I feel more jealous of Anna Campbell than I was 
of Hadidjé, of Nazli, or of Zouhra, I can’t tell you ; but 
I am afraid — she is a Christian, and perhaps you will 
love her better than me. I feel that the laws and 
customs of your country will recover their hold over you 
and will separate us. That odious law which you once 
told me of, which would enfranchise me, so you said, and 
make me my own mistress if I desired to leave you, 
often comes back to my mind like a bad dream. It 
seems to me that this imaginary liberty, which I don’t 
want at any price, would become a reality if you get 
married.” 

I reassured her on this point. There is a much 
more persuasive eloquence in the heart than in the vain 
deductions of logic. During this extraordinary scene, 
in which my poor Kondjé-Gul’s mind was alarmed by 
the conflict going on between her own beliefs and what 
she knew of our society, I was quite sincere in my 
illusions concerning the moral compromise which, I 
fancied, was imposed upon me as an absolute duty. 
Singular as it may all appear to you, I had already been 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


279 


subjected too long to the influence of the harem not to 
have become gradually permeated by the Oriental ideas. 
The tie which bound me to Kondjé-Gul had acquired 
a kind of sacred and legitimate character in my eyes. 

However this may have been, her revelation disclosed 
an impending danger. It was clear to me that the news 
of the marriage arranged between Anna Campbell and 
myself could only have reached Madame Murrah through 
Kiusko. His relationship with my aunt had made him 
a member of our family, and he had been acquainted 
with our projects. I could easily understand that his 
jealous instincts had penetrated one side of the secret 
between Kondjé and myself. He had at least guessed 
that she loved me, and that I was an obstacle to the 
attainment of his desires. He was following up his 
object. He wished to destroy Kondjé-Gul’s hopes in 
advance, by showing her that I was engaged to marry 
another. 

With my present certitude of his mean devices, I 
began to wonder whether everything had been already 
let out through slips of the tongue made by Madame 
Murrah, in the course of those interviews which he had 
obtained with her either by chance or by appointment. 
For several days past I fancied I had remarked in him 
an increased reserve of manner. It was possible that, 
being convinced now of the futility of his hopes, his 
only object henceforth was to revenge himself on his 
rival by at least disturbing his feeling of security. 

Yes ! you are quite right : I love her ! Why should 


280 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


you imagine I would wish to deny it, or dissemble it as 
a weakness ? Did I ever tell you that the consequence 
of indulgence in the pleasures of harem loves would 
be to drown the heart, the soul, and the aspirations 
towards the ideal for the sole advantage of the senses ? 
Where you seem to see the defeat of one vanquished, I 
find the triumph of my happiness and the enchantment 
of a dream which I am realizing during my waking 
hours. Compare with this secret and charming bond 
of union which attaches me to Kondjé-Gul, the prosaic 
and vulgar character of those common intrigues which 
one cynically permits the whole world to observe, or of 
those illicit connections which the hypocritical remnant 
of virtue with us constrains us to conceal, like crimes, 
in the darkness. Deceptive frenzies they are, the 
enjoyment of which always involves of necessity the 
degradation of the woman and the contempt of the 
lover ! You may preach and dogmatise as much as you 
like in your endeavours to uphold the superiority of our 
habits over those of the East, which you declare to be 
barbarous ; you will never succeed in doing anything 
more than entangling yourself in your own paradox. 

The fact is that in the refined epoch, so-called, in 
which we live, every description of non-legitimized union 
in love becomes a libertinage, and the woman who 
abandons herself to it becomes a profane idol. Whether 
she be a duchess, or a foolish maid, you may write 
verses over her fall, but you cannot forget it. The 
worm is in the fruit. My love for Kondjé-Gul knows no 
such shame, and needs no guilty excuses. Proud of 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


281 


her slavish submission, she can love me without dero- 
gating in the least from her own self-respect. In 
Kondjé’s eyes, her tender embraces are legitimate, her 
glory is the conquest of my heart. I am her master, 
and she abandons herself to me without transgressing 
any duty. Being a daughter of Asia, she fulfils her 
destiny according to the moral usages and the beliefs 
of her native land : to these she remains faithful in 
loving me : her religion has no different rule, her virtue 
no different law. 

That is why I love her, and why my heart is possessed 
by such a frank and open loyalty towards her. You 
speak to me about the future, and ask me what will 
happen when the time comes for my marriage to Anna 
Campbell ? Well, the future is still in the distance, 
my dear fellow ; when it comes upon me we will see 
what I will do ! Meanwhile I love and content myself 
with loving ! 

Will that satisfy you ? Oh yes, I confess my errors, 
I abjure my pagan vanities, and my sultanic principles. 
I give up Mahomet ! I have found my Damascus road. 
True love has manifested itself to me in all its glory, 
shining through the clouds ; it has inspired me with its 

grace, and my false idols lie prostrate in the dust 

Would you like me to make you a present of my harem ? 
If this offer suits you, send me a line, and I will forward 
what remains of it to you with all despatch : you shall 
then give it my news, for it is six weeks now since I 
have seen my two sultanas. Only make haste — in eight 
days’ time they are to return to Constantinople. The 


282 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


blessings of civilization are decidedly banes to these 
little animals. Liberty in Paris would soon ruin them. 
I have provided for them, and am sending them away. 

I mention all this to show you in what happiness I 
bask. Reassured by my affection, and confident in the 
future, my Kondjé-Gul has recovered that sweet serenity 
which makes our love such a delicious dream. As the 
fierce Kiusko is now unmasked, we laugh at his foolish 
plots as you may well imagine ! 




P. Arr-il we* 


CHAPTER XYL 


My aunt Gretchen van Cloth is in Paris ! 

Well, why do you assume your facetious tone on reading 
that ? I know you and can guess your thoughts. 

After all, Barbassou is a pasha, is it still necessary to 
remind you of that ? 

Well, the other day my uncle informed me that he 
would take me home to dine with him. I repaired to 
the boulevard at the appointed hour and we started in 
his brougham for Passy. On the way he told me what 
it was necessary I should know. We reached a rather 
nice looking house in the Rue Raynouard, from which 
you can see the boats floating down the Seine. There 


284 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


is a railing and a little garden in front. On hearing 
our footsteps, a young lady whom I at once recognised, 
from the recollections of my childhood, hurried to the 
door. 

“ Kiss your aunt,” my uncle said to me : and I did 
as I was told. 

We then entered a modest little drawing-room, the 
common-place aspect of which, reminding one of fur- 
nished apartments, was improved by its general neatness 
and by a few bunches of flowers displayed in sundry odd 
vases. Three youngsters, the smallest of whom was 
between three and four years old, were eating bread and 
butter there. My uncle saluted each of them with a 
hurried kiss, and then they ran off to their nurse. 

My aunt Gretchen is just reaching her thirty-fourth 
birthday. She confesses to her age. If she did not 
come from Amsterdam she ought to have been born there. 
She has blossomed like a flower among the tulips, and 
she looks like a Kubens, in that painter’s more sober 
style, as in the portrait of the Friesland woman, with 
the prim pink and white flesh of the healthful natures 
of the North. You realise that good blood flows quietly 
and temperately beneath the pleasantly plump charms 
of this worthy Dutchwoman, who claims only her due, 
but is desirous of getting it. And she does get it. She 
has luxuriant light chestnut hair, and a very attractive 
face with the smiling, placid, and even somewhat simple 
expression of a good housewife, who is as expert in 
bringing up her children as in making pastry and pine- 
apple jam. Being of a gay and amiable disposition, she 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


285 


greeted her husband with the ordinary, hearty affection of 
a woman who has never been a widow. After bringing 
him his foxskin cap she established him in a comfortable 
armchair, and then mixed his absinthe for him. I guessed 
that the captain was returning to old habits, with the 
dignified composure which he displays in everything. 

They began to talk in Dutch, and as I looked at them 
without understanding it, my uncle said to me : 

“ Your aunt tells me that her kitchen range is too 
small to make any good soufflés , and it worries her on 
your account.” 

“ Oh ! my aunt is too kind to disturb herself about 
such a trifling matter,” I replied ; “ the pleasure I feel in 
seeing her again amply compensates me for this slight 
mishap.” 

“Well, instead of the soufflés you shall have some 
wafelen and some pofertjes ! ” quickly rejoined my 
aunt with her kindly smile. 

I remarked that she spoke French much better than 
formerly. However, probably on account of her voyages 
with the captain, who recruited his crews at Toulon, her 
Dutch accent has now become a Provençal one. 

The dinner was delightful, substantial and plentiful, 
like the charms of my aunt, who was victorious along the 
whole line, and notably with the spicy sauce of a gebakken 
schol , which was excellently baked. 

The conversation was simple and of a free and easy 
character, my uncle talking with all the freedom of a 
man who has a quiet conscience. He was as much at his 
ease in his Dutch household as any good citizen could 


286 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


be, and I perceived that my aunt knew absolutely nothing 
about him, unless it were the important position that 
he occupied in the spice trade. She gave him some 
news about the great doings of the Van Hutten firm of 
Botter dam and Antwerp, in which he seemed to take a 
particular interest* It seems, too, that Peter van Schloss, 
junior, is married to a young lady of Dordrecht, who 
presented him with twins after six months of matri- 
mony, a circumstance which my uncle found very natural. 
Old Joshua Schlittermans, having been utterly ruined 
by the failure of Gaunton Brothers of New York, has 
now taken to drink. 

When the coffee was served (Dirkie had brought it 
from Amsterdam, purchasing it on the Damplaatz, at 
the corner of Kalver Straat), my aunt filled a long por- 
celain pipe which my uncle took from her hands and 
lighted, puffing out clouds of smoke, with the serene 
gravity of some worthy burgomaster at home. We drank 
some schiedam and two sorts of dry curaçoa. While my 
aunt sat knitting at the table she questioned me as to my 
occupations, asking me if I were working in my uncled 
establishment; and upon my replying affirmatively to 
her, she gave me some very good advice, telling me 
to be very industrious so that I might take my uncle’s 
place later on. 

At half-past ten we rose from table and went into 
the drawing-room. Dirkie got everything ready for a 
game of dominoes, and they began to play in the Dutch 
fashion. My uncle kept the markers, and noted the 
points made : he himself speedily scored between three 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


287 


and four hundred, and then, feeling satisfied with his 
success, he said : 

“Well, give us a little music ! ” 

My aunt did not require any pressing, hut went to the 
piano in a very good-humoured manner. She opened 
the top so that the instrument might give out a louder 
sound, then passed behind and arranged everything; 
and suddenly I heard the splendid introduction of 
Haydn’s seventh symphony in F major bursting forth, 
while my aunt turned the handle with rare skill and 
gracefulness. (I recognised the superb instrument 
mentioned in the fourth legacy of the famous will.) 

I must admit that if my aunt played the minuet 
rather quickly, she executed the andante in a very delicate 
style, and the scherzo and the finale were both dashed 
off in a spirited way. At the last chord, I applauded 
with sincere enthusiasm. 

“ She plays very well, doesn’t she ?” my uncle quietly 
asked me, in a modest tone. “You, who are a 
connoisseur — ” 

“Oh ! she plays perfectly,” I rejoined, without 
stinting my praise. 

“And besides she puts expression into it,” he 
resumed. “One can see that she feels what she 
plays.” 

My aunt kissed him for this compliment, which he 
paid her with the gravest assurance. 

“Ah ! you are still a flatterer !” she said to him. 

As may readily be guessed, some of Strauss’s waltzes 
and two or three polkas followed the classical sympho- 
nies, together wdth the overtures of “ Don Giovanni ” 


288 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


and “ Fra Diavolo.” It was really a perfect concert till 
midnight. But by that time my aunt’s plump arm 
being somewhat tired it was necessary to bring the 
entertainment to a close. 

Now, my dear fellow, I am not one of those who give 
way to the stupid prejudices of our foolish traditions ; 
still less am I one of those who seek to evade frivolous 
objections, or fight shy of plain and open discussion. I 
have myself officially abandoned polygamy, that is true 
— but you are meditating another attack upon my uncle 
— I see it and I feel it— and from the depths of your 
troglodytic intellect you intend to drag out some 
common-place hackneyed argument accompanied by 
frivolous sarcasms, and directed, not at the point in 
question, but all round it. As you are even incapable 
of understanding your own so-called virtue in its true 
and primitive sense, you will no doubt repeat your 
usual stupid remarks, denouncing my uncle’s conduct 
as scandalous. 

Let us go straight to the moral point, without haggling 
over words. My uncle, who has the advantage of being 
a Turk, distributes himself between his two wives, like a 
worthy husband faithful to his duty. Do you presume 
to blame him ? In that case what have you to say to 
our friends A. B. C. D. E. F (I spare you the rest of the 
alphabet, and it is understood that the reader and present 
company are excepted), our friends, I say, who deceive 
their wives for the sake of hussies who have several pro- 
tectors, as they are well aware ? It is not a question here 
of fighting on behalf of the holy shrine of monogamy. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


289 


With how many faithful, irreproachable husbands are 
you acquainted ? Those hussies are mistresses, you will 
say to me ! I know it : that is to say, they are females 
who belong to everybody. The question is settled : my 
uncle is a virtuous man by the side of our friends. As 
he is incapable of such vulgar and promiscuous intrigues 
he has a supplementary household, that is all ! Like 
the prudent traveller who is acquainted with the length 
of the journey he judiciously prepares relays. 

Compare that family gathering at my aunt Van Cloth’s 
with those unhealthy stolen pleasures of debauched 
husbands who feel ashamed and tremble with the fear 
of being surprised. My uncle is a patriarch ànd takes 
no part in the licentiousness of our times. So much 
for this subject. 

I have just received a most unforeseen blow, my dear 
Louis, and eten while I write have scarcely recovered 
from the alarm of a horrible machination from which 
we were only saved by a miracle. 

I told you about my poor Kondé-Gul’s passing grief 
on account of her mother’s foolish ideas. Reassured as 
to the future by my vows and promises, she was too 
amenable to my influence to refuse to submit to a trial 
which I was forced by duty to prepare her for. Proud 
at the thought that she was sacrificing her jealousy for 
me, sacrificing herself for my happiness, her tears having 
been dried up by my kisses, I found her the day after 
this cruel blow to her heart as expansive and confiding 
as if no cloud had darkened our sky. 


290 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


But a very few days after I was quite surprised to 
observe a sort of melancholy resignation about her. I 
attributed this trouble to some of the childish worries 
which her mother’s temper occasionally gave her. How- 
ever, after several days had passed like this, I came to 
the conclusion that the cause of her sadness must be 
something more than a transitory one, and that she was 
harassed by some new grief which even my presence was 
not sufficient to dissipate. By her replies to me, which 
seemed to be pervaded by more than usual tenderness, 
I judged that — in her fear of alarming me, no doubt, — 
she wished to conceal from me the real cause of her 
anxiety. 

One evening at one of our little parties at the Mon- 
tagues, which had begun as a concert, but was converted 
by us, in our gay and sociable mood, into a dance, Maud 
had trotted me off to make up a quadrille. Kondjé-Gul, 
who, as you know, never dances, had withdrawn into the 
boudoir adjoining the drawing-room, where she was 
looking through the albums. I suspected nothing, and 
was engaged in a frivolous conversation with Maud, when 
from where I stood, through the glass partition which 
separated the two rooms, I noticed Kiusko come and sit 
down by her side. It was natural enough that, seeing 
her alone, he considered himself bound not to leave her 
so, for that might have looked like a want of politeness 
on his part. It seemed to me, moreover, from their 
faces, that their conversation was upon indifferent topics, 
and was being conducted in that tone of ordinary friend- 
liness which was usual between them. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


291 


He was turning over the pages of an album as he 
talked to her. I had no reason to pay much attention 
to this tête-à-tête, and was not even intending to follow 
it, but once, near the end of the quadrille, my eyes being 
again turned by chance in Kondjé-Gul’s direction, I saw 
her rise up all of a sudden, as if something that Daniel 
had said had excited her suddenly. I thought I saw her 
blush, raising her head proudly and answering him in 
an offended tone. 

The dance being now over, I left Maud, and, agitated 
by an anxious kind of feeling, walked up to the boudoir. 
They were standing up, and Kiusko’s back being turned 
to the door, he did not see me enter. Kondjé-Gul saw 
me and said : 

“ André, come and give me your arm ! ” 

At this unusually bold request, Daniel could not 
repress a gesture of astonishment, and cast a bewildered 
glance at me. I advanced, and she seized my arm with 
a convulsive movement, and addressed herself to my 
rival : 

“ This is the second time, sir, that you have declared 
your love to me. Let me tell you why I decline it : I 
am the slave of Monsieur André de Peyrade, and I love 
him ! ” 

If a thunderbolt had fallen at Daniel’s feet, it could 
not have startled him more than this. He turned so 
pale that I thought he was going to faint. He gazed at 
both of us with a desperate and ferocious look, as if 
some terrible thought was revolving in his mind. His 
features were contracted into such a savage expression 


292 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


that I instinctively placed myself between him and 
Kondjé-Gul. But, all at once, frightened no doubt at 
his own passion, he gave one glance of despair and rage, 
and fled from the room. Kondjé-Gul was all of a 
tremble. 

“What has happened, then?” I asked her. 

“I will tell you all about it,” she answered, in a voice 
still quivering with emotion. “I am going home with 
my mother. Come after us as soon as we are off.” 




Half an hour later I joined Kondjé-Gul again at her 
house. She had sent Fanny out of the room, and was 
waiting for me. When she saw me, she threw her 
arm round my neck, and the long-pent up tears seemed 
to start from her eyes like a fountain. 

“ Good heavens !” I exclaimed, “ what is it, then? ” 
And taking her on my knees like a child, I held her 
in my arms ; but she soon recovered her energy. 

“ Listen, dear,” she said in a firm voice, “you must 
forgive me for what I have just done : you must forgive 
me for having concealed my thoughts and my troubles 
from you, even at the risk of distressing you.” 

“I forgive you, everything,” I answered immediately, 
“ go on, tell me quickly.” 


294 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Well, then ! For a whole week I have been deceiv- 
ing you,” she continued, “ by telling you that I had no 
troubles, and that I did not know the cause of that 
sadness which I could not conceal from you. I was 
afraid of making you angry with my mother, by confess- 
ing to you that it was she who was tormenting me.” 

“Your mother!” I exclaimed: “and what had she 
to say to you, then ? ” 

“You shall hear all,” she said, with animation, 
“ for I must justify myself for having kept a secret from 
you. I daresay you remember,” she continued, “ that 
a fortnight ago she spoke to me about your marriage, 
telling me that you were going to leave me.” 

“ Yes, yes, I understand,” I said. “ What then ? ” 

“ My mother had made me promise to keep this reve- 
lation a secret, because it was necessary, so she said, 
that Count Kiusko should not suspect that we loved 
each other. She said that he had expressly attributed 
my refusal to become his wife to some hope which I 
doubtless entertained of marrying you.” 

“ Well, go on; tell me what has occurred since.” 

“ You know the state of trouble you found me in that 
night. I could not hold back my tears, and you com- 
manded me to tell you all. At last you reassured me 
with so much warmth of feeling, that after that I did 
not believe anyone but you. Quite happy at the thought 
of sacrificing myself to your will, and to your peace of 
mind, I left off thinking about my alarms, and regretted 
them as an insult to our love ; I repeated to my mother 
all your kind promises, and thought that I had set her 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


295 


mind at rest. Imagine my astonishment at hearing her, 
a few days afterwards, return to the subject : she had seen 
the count again, who had declared that your uncle would 
disinherit you if you did not carry out his wishes.” 

“ And did you believe all that ? ” 

“No,” she replied promptly, “for you had not told 
me so ! But then my mother, seeing that I would only 
believe you, changed her tactics : she spoke about Count 
Kiusko, his wealth, and his love for me.” 

“ She did that, did she ? ” 

“ Oh, forgive her ! ” she continued ; “ she gets anxious 
both on my account and her own. She is alarmed about 
the future, and fancies she sees me deserted by you ! 
Well, it was simply a cruel struggle for me, in which 
my heart could not betray you. I suffered through it, 
and that’s all ! But three days ago, I don’t know what 
can have passed during your aunt’s party, my mother, 
on our way home, said to me in a decided manner that 
she had resolved 4 to live no longer among the infidels,’ 
and intended ‘ to return to the land of the Faithful, in 
order to expiate the great wrong she had committed by 
living here.’ 

“ I was dismayed at this resolution of hers. As she 
based it upon our faith, I could not oppose her, for that 
would have been a sacrilege, but I could at least invoke 
her affection for me, and entreat her not to leave. Then, 
while I was on my knees before her, and was kissing 
her and crying, she startled me by saying : * You shall 
not leave me ; for, when I go, I shall take you away 


296 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Why, she must be crazy !” I exclaimed. 

“Well, dear,” added Kondjé-Gul, “'you can easily 
understand what a thunderbolt this was to me ! I felt 
it so painfully that I nearly swooned away. My mother 
was alarmed and called for Fanny. The next day, I 
attempted to prevail upon her to change her mind, 
declaring that it would kill me to be separated from 
you. I thought I had mollified her, for she kissed me 
and said that all she cared about was my happiness. 
But this evening, while we were in the carriage on our 
way to Suzannah’s, she spoke again to me about Count 
Kiusko. I have a presentiment that the greatest 
enemy to our love and happiness is that man ; and that 
he it is who has been influencing my mother, hoping, no 
doubt, that when separated from you I should no longer 
be able to resist her wishes. 

“ Well, you know the rest, I had gone into the bou- 
doir while you were dancing, when the count came and 
sat down by my side. — ‘ Is it true that you are going 
away ? * he said to me, after a minute or so. * Who 
could make you believe such a thing ? ’ I replied coldly. 
‘ Why, something your mother told me which seemed 
to imply it.’ I remained silent — he did not venture to 
follow up the subject, and said nothing more for a few 
minutes. I kept my eyes on a book which I was 
looking through, for I felt that his eyes were fixed 
upon me. ‘ Perhaps you will regret André a little,’ he 
continued, * but what can you do ? He is not free, — and 
besides, do you suppose he would have loved you ? ’ 

“ At this question, the cruel irony of which wounded 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


297 


me to the quick, I was possessed by some mad impulse, 
I raised my head and replied to him in such a scornful 
tone that he rose up in confusion. Just then you came 
in. I wished to overwhelm him with my contempt so 
as to destroy all further hopes he might cherish. You 
know what I said — ” 

“ And quite right, too ! For it was necessary to put 
a stop to his nonsense. I will attend to it.” 

“ But what if my mother wants to separate us ? ” 

“ Your mother, indeed !” I exclaimed ; “ your 

mother who sold you, abandoned you to the life of a 
slave, do you think she can come and claim the rights 
which she has thrown away ? ” 

“ Can you defend me against her, then ? ” 

“ Yes, dear, I will defend you,” I exclaimed in a 
passion, “ and now set your mind at ease. There is a 
miserable plot at the bottom of all this, which I intend 
demolishing. When I leave you I am going to Count 
Kiusko, and I assure you that he slia’n’t trouble you any 
more : after that I shall see your mother.” 

“ Good heavens ! ” said Kondjé-Gul, “ are you going 
to fight him?” 

“No, no,” I answered with a laugh, in order to 
remove her fears ; “but you must understand that it is 
necessary for me to have an explanation with him.” 

In the morning I returned home and arranged all my 
affairs ready for any eventuality ; then when all was in 
order I went after two of my friends, and asked them to 
hold themselves ready to act as my seconds in an affair 


298 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


which I might be compelled by grave circumstances to 
settle that very day. Having obtained their promise to 
do so, I proceeded to Kiusko’s in the Eue de l’Elysée. 

When I arrived at his house, I saw from the windows 
being open that he was up. A footman, who knew me, 
was standing under the peristyle. He told me that he 
did not think his master would see anyone then. I gave 
him my card and instructed him to send it up at once to 
the count. In a minute or two after he returned and 
asked me to come up to his master’s private room : he 
showed me into a little smoking-room adjoining the bed- 
room, to which the count’s intimate friends only are 
admitted. I had hardly entered it when Daniel 
appeared ; he was dressed in a Moldavian costume which 
he uses as a dressing-gown. 

“ Hullo, here’s our dear friend André !” he said when 
he saw me, in such an indifferent tone that I could 
detect in it the intentional affectation of a calmness to 
which his pale countenance gave the lie. 

Still he did not hold out his hand to me, nor did I 
proffer mine; he sat down, indicating to me an arm-chair 
on the other side of the fire-place. 

“ What good fortune has brought you here so early 
this morning?” he continued, taking a few puffs at his 
cigar. 

“ Why, I should have thought you expected to see 
me,” I replied, looking him straight in the face. 

He returned my look with a smile. 

“I expected you, without expecting you, as they 
say.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


299 


By the peculiar tone in which he uttered these words, 
I could see that he was determined to make me take the 
initiative in the matter upon which I had come. 

“ Very well !” I said, wishing to show him that I 
guessed his mind. “ I will explain myself.” 

“ I am all attention, my dear fellow,” he answered. 

“ I have come to speak to you,” I continued drily, 
“ about Mademoiselle Kondjé-Grul Murrah, and about 
what passed yesterday between her and you.” 

“ Ah, yes ! I understand : you are referring to the 
somewhat severe lecture which I drew upon myself, and 
to the confidential communication she made me.” 

“ Precisely so,” I added ; “ you could not sum up the 
two points better than you have done : a lecture, and a 
confidence. Now as one outcome of the second point is 
that I am responsible for all Mademoiselle Murrah’s acts, 
I have come to place myself at your command respecting 
the lecture she thought fit to give you.” 

“ What nonsense, my dear fellow !” he exclaimed, 
puffing a cloud of smoke into the air. “After all I 
only had what I deserved, for I can only blame my own 
presumption. Besides the very anger of such a charming 
young lady is a favour to the man who incurs it, so that 
my only regret is that I offended her. I should there- 
fore really laugh at myself to think that I could hold 
you responsible for this little incident : nay, I will go so 
far as to say that, strictly speaking, I should owe you 
an apology for what you might be justified in complain- 
ing of as an act of disloyalty between friends, but for 
the fact that I can plead as my excuse the complete 


800 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


ignorance in which you left me of certain mysterious 
relations. You must know very well that a simple word 
from you, my relative, my friend , would have made me 
stop short on the brink of the precipice.” 

I appreciated the reproachful irony concealed in this 
last sentence ; but I had gone too far to trouble myself 
about remorses of conscience regarding him. 

“ So then,” I replied, “ you have nothing to say, no 
satisfaction to demand of me in respect to this lecture ?” 

“ None whatever, my dear fellow ! ” he answered, in 
the same easy tone which he had preserved all along. 
“And I may add that there could he nothing more 
ridiculous than a quarrel between two friends like you 
and me upon such a matter ! ” 

“ Let’s think no more about it then ! ” I continued, 
imitating his composure. “ Since you take it so good- 
naturedly, I sha’n’t press it. But, having settled this 
first point, it remains now for us to discuss what you 
have termed the confidence .” 

At this he could not repress a slight gesture. His 
dark eye flashed up, but for a moment only: he was 
soon quite calm again. 

“ Ah, yes ! ” he said carelessly; “ now we’ve come to 
the second point.” 

“ This is the point of importance for me,” I added ; 
“and I am going to ask you, on my side, what you 
propose to do after this revelation ? ” 

“ I must compliment you, my dear fellow, for upon 
my word it’s a most wonderful romance. Do you really 
mean to say that this beautiful young lady whom we 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


801 


have all been admiring from a distance, fascinated by 
her charms, and who like a young queen has been 
starring it in the most aristocratic drawing-rooms of 
your society, exciting enthusiastic praise wherever she 
goes, — that she is your slave? — You must admit that 
no mortal man could help envying you ! ” 

“Do your compliments,” I continued, “imply an 
engagement, on your part, to abandon importunities, 
which you now recognise to be useless ? ” 

“ Oh, indeed !” he exclaimed, with a laugh ; “so 
you’re going to ask me now to make my confession ? ” 
Exasperated by this imperturbable composure of his, 
which I could not break down, I again looked him 
straight in the face, and asked — 

“Do you mean to say you refuse to understand 
me?’' 

“ No, my good sir ! ” he answered, resuming his 
peculiar smile, “ I understand you perfectly well ; you 
want to pick a quarrel with me, or to force me to 
demand satisfaction from you for a matter to which I 
do not attach as much importance as you do. Between 
ourselves, a duel would be an act of folly.” 

“ Do you understand, at any rate,” I retorted, “ that I 
forbid your ever presenting yourself before Mademoiselle 
Kondjé-Gul Murrah again ? ” 

“ Fie ! my dear fellow ! What do you take me for ? 
After such an astonishing confession on her part, I 
should prove myself deficient in the most ordinary dis- 
cretion, if I did not henceforth spare her my presence ; 
so you may set your mind at ease on that point.” 


802 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


“ Do you also imply by this evasive answer that you 
will abandon certain plots with her mother, which I 
might describe in terms that would not please you ? ” 

“ Corbleu ! I should be too heavily handicapped in 
such a game, you must admit. Nor do I think that the 
good lady would be of much service to me, from what 
I know of her. Moreover,” he added, “ you have made 
me your confidences, as a friend, and, late though they 
arrive, I shall feel bound by them henceforth, if only on 
the ground of the mutual consideration, which, in grave 
circumstances, relations owe to each other.” 

The idea, then, occurred to me of provoking him 
in another way ; but I clearly realised that, as he was 
playing such a perfidious part, it would be dangerous for 
me to commit this imprudence. 

“ Come, my dear Daniel,” I said, as I rose from my 
chair, “at any rate, I can see that you have a very 
good-natured disposition.” 

“ Of course I have,” he replied; “ and yet there are 
people who accuse me of evil designs.” 

The most formidable perils are those which you feel 
darkly conscious of, without being able to discern either 
the enemy or the snare. This interview with Kiusko 
left almost an impression of terror on my mind. Know- 
ing him to be as brave as I did, I felt convinced that his 
insensibility to my insults could only be due to the 
calculated calm of an implacable will, which was pur- 
suing its object, whether of love, of vengeance, or of 
hatred, with all the energy of desperation. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


303 


Notwithstanding the humiliations he had undergone, 
I made sure that he had by no means given up the game. 
He meant to have Kondjé-Gul, even if he had to capture 
her forcibly, and to carry her off as his prey. When 
I considered his sinister calm, which seemed to be 
abiding its opportunity, I wondered whether we were 
not already threatened by some secret machinations on 
his part. 

Still I was not the man to he overcome by childish 
panics ; so I soon got over this transitory feeling of 
alarm. I knew that after all we were so unequally 
matched, that I need not seriously fear his success. 
However determined Kiusko might be not to abandon 
the cowardly rôle he had assumed, I felt sure that an 
open affront at the club would compel him to fight. 

Feeling reassured by this consideration, I decided to 
be guided in my action by the result of the interview 
which I was going to have with Kondjé-Gul’ s mother. 
It was necessary for me to commence by putting a stop 
to the foolish proceedings of this woman, who was 
perhaps acting unintentionally as Kiusko’s accomplice 
in schemes the object of which she could not foresee. 
It was eleven o’clock, an hour at which I knew I 
should find her alone, while Kondjé-Gul was taking 
her lessons : I went accordingly to Téral House. 

When I arrived a carriage was coming in and draw- 
ing up under the portico. I saw Madame Hurrah get 
out of it. She could not avoid showing some annoyance 
on observing me. Kather surprised at her taking such 
an early drive, I asked her to go into the drawing-room 


304 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


She went there before me, and, seeing me take an arm- 
chair, she sat down on the divan in her usual indolent 
manner, and waited to hear what I had to say. 

The scene which I am now going to relate to you, my 
dear Louis, was certainly, according to our ideas, a re- 
markable one. I tell it you just as it happened ; hut 
you must not forget that, for the Circassian woman, 
there was nothing in it which was out of conformity 
with her principles and the ideas of her race. 

“ I have come to talk with you,” I said, “ upon a 
serious subject, the importance of which perhaps you 
do not comprehend ; for, without intending it, you are 
causing Kondjé-Gul a great deal of trouble.” 

“ How am I causing my daughter trouble ? ” she 
answered, as if she had been trying to understand. 

“ By continually telling her that I am going to leave 
her in order to get married, — by telling her that you 
wish to go away, and have even decided to take her with 
you. She is of course alarmed by all these imaginary 
anxieties.” 

“ If it is so decreed by Allah ! ” she said quietly, 
“ who shall prevent it ? ” 

I had been expecting denials and subterfuges. This 
fatalistic utterance, without answering my reproaches, 
took me quite aback and made me tremble. 

“But,” I replied in a severe tone, “Allah could not 
command you to bring unhappiness to your daughter.” 

“ As you are going to be married ” 

“ What matters my marriage ?” I answered. “ It 
cannot in any way affect Kondjé- Gul’s happiness ! She 


LOVE IN A HAREM 305 

knows that I love her, and that she will always retain 
the first place in my affections.” 

Madame Murrah shook her head for a minute in an 
undecided manner. The argument which I had em- 
ployed was a most simple one. 

At last she said : “ Your wife will be an infidel ; and, 
according to your laws, she will be entitled to demand 
my daughter’s dismissal.” 

Dumb-founded at hearing her raise such objections, 
when I had fancied that I only needed to express my 
commands, I gazed at her in complete astonishment. 

“ But my wife will never know Kondjé-Gul ! ” I ex- 
claimed. “ She will live in her own home, and Kondjé- 
Gul will live here, so that nothing will be changed so 
far as we are concerned.” 

Upon this reasoning of mine, which I thought would 
seem decisive to her, the Circassian reflected for a 
moment as if embarrassed as to how she should answer 
me. But suddenly, just when I thought she was con- 
vinced, she said : 

“All that you have said would be very true, if we 
were in Turkey ; but you know better than I do that in 
your country, your religion does not permit you to have 
more than one wife.” 

“ But,” I exclaimed, more astounded than ever at 
her language, “ do you suppose, then, that Kondjé- 
Gul could ever doubt my honour or my fidelity ? ” 

“My daughter is a child, and believes everything,” 
she continued. “ But, for my own part, I have con- 
sulted a lawyer, and have been informed that according 


306 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


to your law she has become as free as a Frenchwoman, 
and has lost all her rights as cadine which she would 
have enjoyed in our country. Moreover I am informed 
that you can abandon her without her being able to 
claim any compensation from you.” 

I was struck dumb by this bold language and the 
expression with which it was accompanied. This was 
no longer the apathetic Oriental woman whose obedience 
I thought I commanded like a master. I had before 
me another woman whose expression was thoughtful 
and decided — I understood it all. 

“ While informing you that your daughter is free,” I 
said, changing my own tone of voice, “ this lawyer no 
doubt informed you also, that you could marry her to 
Count Kiusko ? ’ ’ 

“ Oh, I knew that before ! ” she replied, smiling. 

“ So you have been deceiving me these two months 
past, by leaving me to believe that you had answered 
him with a refusal ? ” 

“ It was certainly necessary to prevent you from 
telling him what he now knows. — The silly girl told 
him everything yesterday.” 

“ How do you know that ? ” 

I saw her face redden. 

“ I know it. That’s enough ! ” she replied defiantly. 

Feeling certain that Kondjé-Gul had not told her 
anything of the incident of the day before, I divined 
that she had just left Kiusko’s, where she had been, no 
doubt, during our interview. 

“ May I ask you, then, what you propose to do, now 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


307 


that Count Kiusko knows everything ?” I continued, 
controlling my anger. 

“ I shall do what my daughter’s happiness impels me 
to do. You cannot marry her without being obliged to 
give up your uncle’s fortune. If Count Kiusko should 
persist in wishing to make her his wife, knowing all the 
circumstances that he now does, you can understand 
that I, as her mother, could not but approve of a 
marriage which would assure her such a rich future.” 

At this I could no longer restrain myself, but ex- 
claimed : 

“ Oh, indeed ! Do you imagine I shall let you dispose 
of her like that, without defending her ? ” 

<l No, of course, I know all this. — And that’s the 
very point upon which I consulted a counsel ; but, 
according to what he has advised me, I should like to 
ask what authority you can claim over my daughter ? 
What rights can you set up against mine ? ” 

“ Well, I should like to remind you also that I can 
ruin your comfortable expectations by killing Count 
Kiusko,” I said, quite beside myself with rage. 

“ If so it is written ! ” she rejoined in a calm voice. 
Exasperated by her fatalistic imperturbability, I felt 
moved by some furious and violent impulse. I got 
up from my chair to calm myself. I could see that for 
two months past I had been duped by this woman, who 
had been pursuing with avidity a vision of unexpected 
fortune, and that nothing could now divert her from 
this pursuit. I felt myself caught in their abominable 
toils. 


808 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Sitting motionless on her divan, with her hands 
folded over her knees, she regarded me in silence. 

“ Well ! ” I said, coming close to her again, “ I can see 
that your maternal solicitude is all a question of money. 
For what sum will you sell me your daughter a second 
time, and go back to live by yourself in the East ? ” 

She hesitated a moment, and then she said : 

“ I will tell you in a week’s time.” 

By her deceitful looks I judged that she still placed 
some hope in Kiusko, and that she probably wished to 
wait until she could make sure about it, one way or the 
other — but from motives of discretion I held my tongue, 
and took leave of her. 




CHAPTER XVIII. 


Events had succeeded each other with such strange 
rapidity since the day before, that I felt like one walking 
in a dream. First, Kondjé-Gurs revelations of her 
mother’s duplicity, then my discussion with Daniel, and 
now finally this cynical dialogue with the Circassian, in 
the course of which she had just confessed her schemes 
quite openly ; all these things had given such a succes- 
sion of rude shocks to my spirit, which had been 
reposing until then in the tranquil assurance of un- 
disturbed happiness, that I had hardly found time to 
estimate the extent of my misfortune. Overwhelmed 
with distress when I perceived the possibility of losing 


310 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Kondjé-Gul, I almost thought I should go mad. I 
made a desperate struggle against the despair which 
was taking possession of my mind. It was necessary 
for me to carry on the contest in order to defend my 
very soul and life, yet I felt my soul slipping out of 
control. Like a mystic fascinated by his vision, I 
might have allowed myself to he deluded by a vain 
mirage of security, for I had never imagined that my 
rights could be disputed. I had been living in the 
peaceful but foolish confidence that I could obtain 
redress, when necessary, by the sword, for my rival’s 
presumption. 

And now I had woke up in consternation at find- 
ing myself caught in this stupid trap which I had 
permitted them to set in my path. Kondjé-Gul’s 
mother had become Kiusko’s accomplice. How was I 
to defeat this conspiracy between two minds animated 
by consuming passions, resolute and pitiless, who were 
determined not to be deterred by any scruples or any 
sense of honour ? I could now see my weakness ; I was 
paralysed and defenceless against this wretched woman 
who, in order to constrain her daughter and dispose of 
her future, had only to claim her legal authority over 
her. She could take her from me, and carry her away. 
Once back in Turkey, supported by the horrible laws of 
Islam, all she need do was to sell her to Kiusko and 
thus give her up to him. 

My mind was struck by a sudden idea. Was it not 
the height of folly on my part to give way to childish 
alarms, and to defer action until after Kiusko and the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


311 


Circassian had matured their plans ? Was it not pos- 
sible for me to escape, carrying Kondjé-Gul off with me, 
and placing her out of reach of their pursuit ? 

As soon as this idea had taken possession of my mind, 
it fixed itself there, and soon developed into a resolution. 
I felt surprised that it had not occurred to me earlier, 
and decided to put it into execution that very day. I 
knew that Kondjé-Gul would follow me, for we had often 
cherished the idea of taking a journey together alone, 
and I had promised her we would carry it out some day. 
In order to assure our successful escape, I resolved to 
give her no notice beforehand, lest she should let it out 
to her mother. 

It was necessary, however, to provide for the conse- 
quences of this disappearance, and the gossip which 
would inevitably result in connection with it. Well, 
after a good deal of hesitation, I confided the whole 
matter to my uncle. 

“You old stupid!” said he to me, “why, I have 
known all about your little love-knot for the last six 
months ! ” 

“ What ! do you mean to say you knew that Kondjé- 
Gul?-” 

“ Lord bless you ! Don’t you suppose that I heard 
enough from Mohammed to make me keep my eyes 
open ? ” 

After I had come to a complete understanding with 
my uncle, I made my own arrangements. I was expected 
to dinner at Kondje s that day. I found hèr quite sad ; 
and on the pretext of giving her some distraction, I 


312 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


ordered the carriage at about half-past eight, as if for a 
drive to the Bois. We started off. 

As soon as we were alone, she said to me : 

“ Good gracious, André ! whatever has been passing 
between you and my mother ? I am worried to death. 
She has been talking again to me about my departure 
with her, and Fanny believes that she is making her 
preparations for it already. — She is going to carry me 
away.” 

“ All right, never mind her ! ” I answered with a 
laugh ; “ you’re out of danger already.” 

“ How so ? ” 

“ I’m taking you away ! You won't go back to the 
house, for we are off to Fontainebleau, where we shall 
both of us remain in concealment, while watching 
events.” 

Need I describe to you her joy? In the Champs 
Elysées we got out, as if in order to walk, and I sent 
back the carriage. An hour after this, a cab set us 
down at the railway station ! 

***** 

We spent a delightful week in the forest, playing 
truant. Fanny, who is a reliable girl, has joined us 
here. We really had a narrow escape; for it seems 
that Madame Murrah had, the very day we made our 
flight, got everything planned for leaving the day after. 
When she found in the morning that Kondjé-Gul was 
gone, she nearly had a fit. Kiusko came to the house, 
being sent for at once ; all of which pretty clearly 
indicates an understanding between them. The Cir- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


313 


cassian of course rushed after me to the Rue de 
Varennes, noisily demanding her daughter. So my 
aunt got to know all about it ! My uncle, whom I had 
taken into my confidence, put them at once completely 
off the scent, by replying that I had started for Spain. 
***** 

We are safe ! Everything has been accomplished, as 
if by enchantment. For fifteen days past my Kondjé- 
Gul has been settled in a charming cottage at Ermont, 
in the middle of the forest, hidden away like a daisy in 
a field of standing corn. She has disappeared from view, 
leaving no more traces behind her than a bird in its 
flight through the air ; and I am back in Paris, as if I 
had just returned from a journey. I have sent word 
to Madame Murrah that her daughter, having resolved 
to become a Christian, has taken refuge in a remote 
convent. You may picture to yourself her rage; but, 
as she is henceforth powerless, I fear her no more. 
Being a foreigner, and in her precarious position, she 
cannot venture to charge me with abduction, and, as 
you may imagine, I am not likely to let her take us by 
surprise. In order to get rid of her, I have offered to 
give her an annuity to live in Turkey, but she has 
declined it. 

There can be no doubt that Kiusko guides her, and 
that they have by no means given up their game, but 
are ready to resort to any violence. You may be sure I 
keep a sharp eye on them, and am prepared for them. 
The contest, however, is too unequal for me to alarm 
myself very much. My uncle, who never troubles 


814 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


himself much with legal scruples, telegraphed to a 
couple of his old sailors, Onésime and Rupert, to come 
up from Toulon : they were horn on our Férouzat 
estate, and are, moreover, his “ god-children.” They 
are ridiculously like him, except that one of them is two 
inches taller than the captain. Their godfather has 
installed them at Ermont, and I don’t mind betting 
that, with a couple of strapping fellows like them 
about the place, any attempt at carrying off Kondjé- 
Gul in my absence would meet with a few trifling 
obstacles ! 

As to myself, I defy them to get on my scent. 

Being accustomed to taking morning rides, I could 
find my way to our happy cottage home by various routes, 
starting from opposite sides of the city. Once on the 
road, it was impossible to follow me, even at a distance ; 
for I should soon recognize any one on horseback who 
appeared too inquisitive about my journey. Moreover, 
if these tactics failed, the pace at which Star goes would 
easily baffle any pertinacious pursuit. I often stay for 
two or three days at this delicious retreat. My uncle 
delights in coming there from time to time to take his 
madeira. 

In short, after the little adventures we have lately 
gone through, we are now leading a very pleasant 
existence. 

You can see what a simple matter it is. 

My famous system, you will tell me, has come to 
grief. Here I am, all forlorn, among the ruins of my 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


815 


harem, running my head against impossibilities opposed 
to our laws, morals, and conventionalities, with my last 
sultana leaning on my arm ; here I am, like some little 
St. John,* reduced to shady expedients in order to get 
a minute’s interview with my mistress, imprisoned in 
her tower. I am trembling between our caresses, you 
will say, lest a commissary of police should come to 
cut the golden thread upon which my remaining blisses 
hang, and force me by legal authority to give back 
Kondjé-Gul to her cruel mother. 

Well, my dear friend, I will answer you very briefly, 
I am in love ! Yes, I am in love ! These words are a 
reply, I think, to everything ; although I must own that 
fear of the commissary, which certainly does threaten 
my felicity, has considerably humbled my Oriental 
pride — I am in love ! I have burnt my essay for the 
Academy. 

Well, then, I have abjured my polygamy. What 
more can I say to you ? 

To-day I must confide to you a most valuable dis- 
covery I have made ,* for I beg you to believe that love 
is not, as so many foolish people imagine, an extin- 
guisher to the fire of the human intellect. On the 
contrary, it stimulates the perceptions ; and an enthu- 
siastic lover, who is familiar with the elements of 
science, can extend therein his field of observations 
quite as easily as persons whose hearts are whole. 

As an example of this, then, I have just been 

* Referring to a familiar French nursery-legend similar to that of 
Santa Claus. — Trans. 


316 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


realising the beauty of a charming phenomenon of 
nature — a most ordinary one, and yet one which so far 
has remained, I think, completely unobserved. I refer 
to the spring ! 

As a great artist, you of course know, as well as any 
one in the world, that this is the season which leads 
from the winter to the summer ; hut what I feel sure 
you don’t know is the full charm of this transitory 
period, in which the whole forest awakens, in which the 
hushes sprout, and the young birds twitter in their 
nests ! 

According to Yauvenargues, “ The first days of spring 
possess less charm than the growing virtue of a young 
man.” 

Well, it would ill befit me to depreciate the value of 
such an axiom, coming from the pen of such a great 
philosopher ; still, and without wishing to disdain his 
politeness in so far as it is really flattering to myself at 
this particular moment of my career, I do not hesitate 
to raise my voice after his, and assert, without any 
pretence of modesty, that this charm is at least as 
great in the case of Flora’s lover as in mine, and 
that it is only fair to accord to each his just portion. 
If my budding virtue possesses ineffable charms, no 
less powerful are those of the lilacs and the roses. It 
is really, I assure you, a wonderful spectacle. You 
ought to have witnessed it ! Some day I will tell you 
all about it, as I have just been doing to my uncle, 
who finds it all very curious, although he professes only 
to understand me “ very approximately.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


817 


Getting up at sunrise, Kondjé and I take a run 
through the coppices, her little feet all wet with the dew. 
We feel free, merry, and careless, dismissing the com- 
missary to oblivion, and trusting to each other’s love, 
the full charms of which this solitary companionship 
has revealed to us. I do not risk more than two excur- 
sions to Paris each week, one to my aunt Eudoxia’s, 
and one to my aunt Yan Cloth’s. Having made these 
angel’s visits, and performed various family duties, I 
vanish, by day or by night as the case may be, eluding 
the vigilance of the spies who have no doubt been set 
at my heels by the unscrupulous mother, or by that 
rascal Kiusko , as we now call him. These adventures 
augment my rapturous felicity ; and if time and destiny 
have shorn me of the privilege of my sultanship, which 
you say rendered me so proud and vain, I retain at all 
events the glory of being happy. 

I am in love, my dear fellow ; and therefore I dream 
and forget. But there is another still darker speck on 
my serene sky. Anna Campbell is just approaching 
her eighteenth birthday, and I cannot think of this 
without a good deal of melancholy. Although my uncle 
is delighted to take occasional walks here, at the end 
of which he finds a capital glass of madeira waiting 
for him, he, as you are aware, is not a person of 
romantic temperament, and has already noted with 
his scrutinising eye the ravages caused by a double 
passion, which bodes no good for his daughter’s married 
life. 

The other night, on my return from my aunt Van 


818 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Cloth’s, he questioned me very seriously on the subject. 
As to my disappointing his hopes, he knows that the 
idea of such a thing would not even occur to me. That 
is a matter of honour between us. 

I spoke of a further delay before preparing my poor 
Kondjé-Gul for the blow. He seemed touched at this 
token of the sincerity of my entirely filial devotion to 
him. 

The commissary has at last come ; we have been dis- 
covered ! 

Yesterday afternoon we were sitting in the garden, 
under the shade of a little clump of trees. My uncle, 
in a big arm-chair, was smoking and listening, while I 
read to him the newspapers, which had just been brought 
to us. Suddenly Kondjé-Gul, who was standing a few 
steps off from us, arranging the plants for her window, 
uttered a suppressed cry, and I saw her run up to m 
all at once, pale and trembling. 

“ What’s the matter, dear ?” I said to her. 

“ Look there ! look there ! ” she answered, in a 
terrified voice, pointing towards the house, “ my 
mother ! ” 

At the same moment, on the door- step of the cottage, 
through which she had passed, and found it empty, 
appeared the Circassian. 

She was accompanied by a man. 

“ This is my daughter, sir,” she said to him. 

I sprang forward to throw myself in front of Kondjé- 
Gul. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


319 


“ Come, don’t agitate yourself, my dear fellow ! ” 
said my uncle. “ Do me the favour of keeping quiet ! ” 

Then, rising up as he would to receive guests, he 
walked a few steps towards Madame Murrah, who had 
advanced towards us, and addressing himself to the man, 
said to him : 

“ Will you inform me, sir, to what I am indebted for 
the honour of this visit from you ? ” 

“I am a Commissary of Police, sir, and am deputed 
by the court to assist this lady, who has come to 
demand the restitution of her daughter, illegally 
harboured by you at your house.” 

“ Very well, sir,” continued my uncle ; “I am de- 
lighted to see you ! But be so kind, if you please, as 
to walk into the house, where we can consider your 
demand more comfortably than in this garden.” 

“ Take care,” said the Circassian to the commissary : 
“ they want to contrive her escape ! ” 

“ Nothing of the sort, my dear madam,” replied my 
uncle : “ this gentleman will tell you that we could not 
venture to do such a thing in his presence. Your 
daughter will remain with us to answer any questions 
which may be put to her. I am taking her arm, and it 
you will kindly follow us, I shall have the honour of 
showing you the way.” 

Onésime and Bupert might he distinguished in the 
dim perspective, waiting apparently for a signal from 
the captain to remove both the commissary and the 
unwelcome lady visitor. 

Our hearts were beating fast : Kondjé-Gul could 


320 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


hardly restrain her feelings. We went in, and my 
uncle, as calm as ever, offered chairs to Madame 
Murrah and to the emissary of justice. Then he 
addressed him again, saying : 

“ May I inquire, sir, whether you are provided with 
a formal warrant authorizing you to employ force to 
take this young lady away, according to her mother’s 
wish ? ” 

“ I have the judge’s order ! ” exclaimed Madame 
Murrah with vehemence. 

“ Excuse me, excuse me,” continued my uncle, 
“ but let us avoid all confusion ! Be so kind, if you 
please, madam, as to permit the commissary to answer 
my question. We are anxious to observe the respect 
which we owe to his office.” 

I felt done for. How could we resist the law ? My 
poor Kondjé cast despairing looks at me. 

“ Madame Murrah being a foreigner, sir,” answered 
the officer of the law, “ as you appear to understand, 
my only instructions are to accompany her, and, in the 
event of opposition being made to her rights, to draw up 
a report in order to enable her to bring an action against 
you in a court of justice.” 

“ Ah ! ” continued my uncle. “ Well, then, sir ! 
you may proceed, if you please, to take down our 
replies. In the first place, then, the young lady 
formally declines to return to her mother.” 

“ That’s false ! ” said the Circassian. “ She is my 
daughter, and belongs only to me ! She will obey me, 
for she knows that I shall curse her if ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


321 


“ Let us be quite calm, if you please, and have no 
useless words ! ” replied my uncle. “ It is your 
daughter’s turn to reply. — Ask her, sir.” 

The commissary then addressed himself to Kondjé- 
Gul, repeating the question. I saw her turn pale and 
hesitate, terror-stricken by her mother’s looks. 

“ Do you want to leave me, then ?” I said to her 
passionately. 

“ Oh, no ! ” she exclaimed. Then turning towards 
the commissary, she added in a firm voice : “ I do not 
wish to go with my mother, sir.” 

At this the Circassian rose up in a fury. 

Kondjé-Gul fell on her knees before her, supplicating 
her with tears, in piteous tones. 

In my alarm I rushed forward. 

“ Get her out of the room ; take her away !” my 
uncle said to me sharply. 

My poor Kondjé-Gul resisted, so I took her up in 
my arms and carried her out. At the door I found 
Fanny, who had come up, and I left my darling in her 
care. 

Madame Murrah darted forward to follow her daughter, 
but my uncle had seized her by the wrist, and forcing 
her down again, said to her in Turkish : 

“ We have not finished ; and if you stir, beware ! ” 

“Sir,” exclaimed the Circassian, addressing the officer 
of the law, “ you see how violently they are treating 
me, and how they are threatening me!” 

All this had taken place so quickly that the com- 
missary hardly had time to intervene with a gesture. 


322 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Onésime and Rupert were strolling about outside the 
window. 

“ Excuse me for having sent this child out, sir,” con- 
tinued my uncle ; “ hut you are, I believe, sufficiently 
acquainted already with her decision. Moreover, she is 
there to reply afresh to you, if you desire to question 
her alone, secure from all influence and pressure. It 
remains for me to speak now upon a subject which she 
ought not to hear mentioned. After her refusal to 
follow her mother, which she has just given so clearly, 
be so good as to add on your report that I also refuse 
very emphatically to give her up to her.” 

“ You have no right to rob me of my daughter,” 
exclaimed the Circassian, who was nearly delirious with 
rage. 

“ That is just the point we are about to discuss,” 
replied my uncle. “Firstly, then, allow me to introduce 
myself to you, sir,” he continued, quite calmly ; “ and 
to explain my position and rights in this matter. My 
name is The Late Barbassou, ex- General and Pasha in 
the service of His Majesty the Sultan — ranks which 
entitle me to the privileges of a Turkish subject.” 

The commissary smiled and nodded to him, thus 
indicating that the name of Barbassou-Pasha was already 
known to him. 

“As a consequence of these rights, sir,” continued 
my uncle, “ my private transactions cannot come before 
the French courts ; so that this affair must be settled 
entirely between Madame Murrah and myself. I should 
even add, while expressing to you my regrets for the 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


328 


inconvenience which it is causing you, that it is I who 
have brought about this very necessary interview. I 
presented myself twice at Madame Murrah’s house in 
Paris, with the object of bringing this stupid business 
to a conclusion. For reasons, no doubt, which you are 
already in a position to estimate, she refused to see me. 
I arranged, therefore, that she should be informed 
yesterday that her daughter was concealed in this house ; 
and I came here at once myself, in order to have the 
pleasure of meeting the lady. There you have the 
whole story.” 

“ I refused to see you,” said Kondjé-Gul’s mother, 
“ simply because I do not know you ! And I ask the 
judge to order the restitution of my daughter, which the 
Ambassador of our Sultan supports me in demanding. 
I have his order to this effect.” 

Here the commissary intervened, and, addressing my 
uncle, whose imperturbable composure quite astounded 
me, said gravely : 

“ Would you oblige me, sir, by stating your motive 
for refusing to give up this young lady to her mother ? 
According to our laws, as you are aware, this is a 
circumstance which, notwithstanding the purely volun- 
tary character of my mandate, I am bound to enter in 
my report.” 

“ Certainly, sir,” replied my uncle, “your request is 
a very proper one, and I will at once reply to it, as I 
would have done in the presence of the consul of His 
Excellency the Turkish Ambassador, were it not that 
Madame Murrah has strong motives for avoiding such 


324 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


an explanation before him, between good Mussulmans 
like herself and me.” 

“ I understand you,” continued the commissary, sup- 
pressing another smile at this declaration of Barbassou- 
Pasha. 

“ Sir,” added my uncle, “ I have the advantage of 
being a Mahometan ; and according to the special 
customs of my country, with which you are acquainted, 
this lady sold me her daughter by a straightforward 
and honourable contract, sanctioned by our usages, 
recognized and supported by our laws : these laws 
formally enjoin me to protect her, and to maintain her 
always in a position corresponding with my own rank and 
fortune, while they forbid me ever to abandon her. 
Under the same contract this lady duly received her 
‘gift’ or legitimate remuneration, which had been 
estimated, fixed, and agreed to by her. Therefore, as 
you will perceive, sir,” he added, “ no discussion in this 
case would ever be listened to by an Ottoman tribunal, 
and Madame Murrah’s suit would be ignominiously 
dismissed.” 

“We are in France,” said Madame Murrah, “and 
my daughter has become free ! ” 

“To conclude, sir,” continued my uncle, without 
taking any notice of this objection, “this lady and I 
are both subjects of His Majesty the Sultan. Ours is 
simply a private dispute between fellow-Turks, coming 
entirely under the jurisdiction of our national tribunals, 
and is one in which your French courts, as you will 
understand, have no authority to interfere.” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


825 


“ You are not my daughter’s husband ! ” exclaimed 
the Circassian ; “ she does not belong to you any longer, 
for you have given her to your nephew, a Giaour, an 
infidel ! ” 

“ Quite true, madam ! ” replied my uncle. “ But,” 
he continued, “these are details in a private dispute, 
with which this gentleman is not concerned. And I 
fancy he has by this time obtained sufficient in- 
formation.” 

“ Certainly, sir,” said the officer of the law, rising 
from his seat. “ I have taken down your replies, and 
my mission is accomplished.” 

Barbassou-Pasha, upon this conclusion, saluted him 
in his most dignified manner and conducted him out 
with every polite attention. 

The Circassian, exasperated beyond measure, had not 
moved: rage was depicted on her whole countenance, 
and she looked like one determined to fight it out to the 
bitter end. 

“ I must insist upon speaking to my daughter,” she 
said passionately, “and then we shall see ! ” 

Just as he caught these words, my uncle came in, 
leading my poor Kondjé-Gul by the hand. 

“ Come, you silly old fool,” he said to Madame 
Murrah, changing his tone quite suddenly, “you can 
see now that there is nothing left to you but to submit. 
Swallow all your stupid threats ! You will make a good 
thing out of it all the same — for I give your daughter 
in marriage to my nephew ! ” 

I thought I must have misunderstood him. 


326 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


*' ‘ Uncle !” I exclaimed, “ what did you say ? ” 

“ "Why, you rascal, I see that I must give her to you, 
since you love each other so consumedly ! ” 

Kondjé-Gul could not repress a scream of joy. We 
both threw ourselves into my uncle’s arms at the same 
time. 

“ Yes,” he said, “ what a jolly couple they look ! But 
it was your aunt Eudoxia who led me at last to play 
this card! Here I am nicely balked of all my fine 
schemes ! ” 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed Kondjé-Gul, “ we will love each 
other so much ! ” 

“ Well, well ! There, they’re quite smothering me ! 
May the good God bless you ! go along. But now we 
shall have to come to an understanding with this excel- 
lent mother; for according to these infernal French laws, 
which complicate everything, her consent is necessary 
for your marriage.” 

“ I certainly shall not give it,” said Madame Murrah 
furiously. 

“ All right ! We will see about that,” he continued. 
“ That is a matter to be arranged between us, and for 
that purpose I shall go to your house to-morrow. Only, 
I give you warning, no noise, please, no silly attempts 
to carry ofi* your daughter, otherwise we shall wait until 
she is of age in two years’ time, and then you will have 
nothing.” 

Don’t be surprised, Louis, if for the rest of this page 
I scrawl like a monkey. At the recollection of this 
scene, my eyes are quite obscured by a veil of mist. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 327 

By Jove, so much the worse! for now it’s all breaking 
into real tears. 

Dear me, what a brick of an uncle he is to me ! 

Notwithstanding Barbassou-Pasha’s Turkish tactics, 
and in spite of the happiness which for the moment 
quite overwhelmed us, my poor Kondjé-Gul began to 
tremble again with fear after the departure of her 
mother, whom we knew to be capable of any mad act. 
We decided that, in order to avoid a very real danger, 
we would take her that very day to the convent of the 
Ladies of X. ; this we did. Before she becomes my wife 
she is going to become a Christian, in pursuance of 
the wish which, as you know, she has expressed a long 
time since, of embracing my faith. This visit, which 
will account to the world for her disappearance, will be 
explained quite naturally by this finale of our marriage ; 
and if people ever discover anything about this queer 
story of our amours, well — I shall have married my own 
slave, that’s all. 

Eh ? What ? You incorrigible carper ! Is it not, 
after all, a charming romance ? 

A fortnight has passed since the intervention of the 
commissary. Kiusko has gone : he disappeared one 
morning. My aunt Eudoxia, who has taken us under 
her special care, goes to see Kondjé-Gul every day at the 
convent. She is charming in her kindness to us, but 
still we have our anxieties. The negotiation of the 
maternal consent is an arduous task, for the Circassian 
makes absurd pretensions ; my uncle, however, under- 
takes to bring her down. 





828 FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 

What will you say next, I wonder? That I am 
reduced to buying my own wife ? I flatter myself that 
I shall find happiness in that bargain ! How many 
others are there, who have done the same, that could 
say as much as that ? 





CHAPTER XIX 

Here’s a fine business ! It is my uncle who has got 
into trouble this time ! My aunt Eudoxia has found 
out everything, and I have just spent two days in 
helping my aunt Van Cloth to pack up and get back to 
Holland with my long string of cousins, the fat Dirkie, 
the cooking moulds, and the barrel-organ following by 
goods’ train. 

It was a veritable thunderclap 1 

I have told you all about this Dutch household and 
its patriarchal felicity, its sweetmeat and sausage 
pastries, and its inimitable tarts — less appetizing, how- 
ever, than my aunt’s fine eyes. I have told you about 
their quiet family evenings with my uncle’s pipe and 
schiedam, in which domino-parties of three were varied 



830 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


by the delightful treat of a symphony from one of the 
great masters, executed in a masterly style by a pretty 
little plump hand covered with pink dimples. 

Once or twice a week, as became a favourite and 
affectionate nephew, I came into the midst of this 
idyll of the land of tulips ; and always quitted it full of 
sweetmeats and good advice. 

However, the day before yesterday, Ernest, the 
second of my cousins, who is five years old, suddenly 
caught a violent fever ; he grew scarlet in the face, and 
his stomach swelled up like a balloon. 

My poor aunt, having exhausted all her arsenal of 
aperients and astringents against what she reckoned to 
be an indigestion due to preserved plums, quite lost her 
head. In the afternoon the child grew worse. Where 
in Paris could she find a Dutch doctor ? She could 
only place confidence in a Dutchman. At the end of 
her wits with fear, she thought she would go after my 
uncle or me ; so, without thinking any more about it, 
as she knew our address, she takes a cab and gets 
driven to the Rue de Varennes, believing in her sim- 
plicity that this was where our shops and offices were. 

She arrives and asks for my uncle. Being seven 
o’clock, the hall-porter tells her that the captain will 
soon be in, shows her to the staircase, and rings the 
bell; one of the men-servants asks her for her name, 
and then opens the folding doors, announcing — 

“ Madame Barbassou ! ” 

It is my aunt Eudoxia who receives her. 

My aunt Van Cloth, who is distracted with anxiety, 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


881 


thinks that she sees before her some lady of my family, 
and in order to excuse herself for disturbing her, begins 
by saying that she has come to see Captain Barbassou, 
her husband . 

Imagine the stupefaction of my aunt Eudoxia ! But 
being too astute to betray herself, she lets the other 
speak, questions her and learns the whole story. Then, 
like the good soul that she is, and feeling sorry for poor 
Ernest and his swollen stomach, she rings and orders 
the carriage to be ready, so that she may go as soon as 
possible to her own doctor ; upon which my aunt Van 
Cloth, who is of an effusive nature, embraces her most 
affectionately, calling her her dearest friend. 

Just then my uncle arrives. 

I was not present ; but my aunt Eudoxia, who con- 
tinues to laugh over it, has related to me all the details 
of the affair. At the sight of this remarkable fusion of 
“ the two branches of his hymens,” as she termed it, 
the Pasha was positively dumb-founded. All the more 
so as my aunt Van Cloth, who understood no more 
about this extraordinary position of affairs than she did 
of Hebrew, threw herself into his arms, and exclaimed : 

“ Ah ! Anatole ! here you are, dear ! — Our Ernest is 
in danger ! ” 

The bravest man will quail occasionally ; and at this 
unfortunate and unavoidable attack, which tore asunder 
the whole veil of mystery, the splendid composure with 
which Nature has armed my uncle Barbassou really 
deserted him for a moment. But, like a man who is 
superior to misfortunes of this sort, when he found 


832 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


himself caught he did not on this occasion, more than 
on any other, waste any time over spilt cream. 

“ Quick ! we must go and fetch the child !” he 
said. 

And taking advantage of the fact that my aunt Van 
Cloth was hanging to him, he carried her off without 
any more ado, and went out by the door, without 
leaving her time to kiss the Countess of Monteclaro, 
as she certainly would have done out of politeness. 
From the ante-room he dragged her down to the car- 
riage, where he packed her in. 

I was coming down from my own chambers just as 
he returned from this summary execution. Although 
about the last thing I expected to come in for was the 
climax of a tragic occurrence, I could see easily enough 
that my uncle had experienced some little shock ; but 
the announcement of dinner and the ordinary tone of 
my aunt’s reception creating a diversion, I did not feel 
certain until we were seated at table that there was 
some storm in the air which was only restrained from 
bursting by the presence of the servants. The Pasha, 
sitting in silence with his head bent down into his 
plate, seemed to be absorbed by some abstruse con- 
siderations, which caused him that evening to forget 
to grumble at the cook. My aunt, on the contrary, 
sparkling with humour, and in her most charming and 
gracious mood, suggested by her smiles a certain light- 
ness of heart : he eyed her suspiciously from time to 
time, like a man with an uncomfortable conscience. 

When the meal was over we returned to the draw- 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


883 


ing-room, and coffee being served, remained there alone. 
The Countess of Monteclaro, still as gracious as ever, 
made some sly thrusts at him, the significance of which 
escaped me somewhat. The captain evidently was keeping 
very quiet. Finally, after half an hour, as I was about 
to leave, and he showed symptoms of an intention to 
slip off, she said to him, in her most insinuating 
manner — 

“ I will detain you for a minute, my dear ; I must 
have a little conversation with you about a matter on 
which I want to take your advice.” 

I kissed the hand which she held out to me, and 
which indicated that my presence was not wanted. 

“ Well, good night, old good-for-nothing ! ” she added, 
as she accompanied me as far as the door of the adjoining 
room. 

What passed after I left, none will ever know. My 
aunt, with her exquisite tact, has only related to me 
the original and amusing side of the matter, laughing 
at her unfortunate discovery in the lofty manner of a 
noble lady who is smoothing over a family trouble. 
Apart from her very genuine affection for my uncle, 
she entertains also a certain esteem for him, which she 
could never depart from before his nephew. 

As for myself, I remained still in ignorance of every- 
thing until nine o’clock, when the Pasha joined me 
again at the club, where he had particularly asked me 
to wait for him. 

At the first glance I guessed that there had been a 
row. Without saying a word, he led me into a little 


884 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


detached room : there he fell into an arm-chair, and 
shook his head in silence, as he looked at me. 

“ Good gracious ! what’s the matter, uncle ? ” I 
asked. 

“ Pfuiii ! ” he replied, staring with his full eyes, and 
prolonging this kind of whistling exclamation, like 
a man who is breathing more freely after a narrow 
escape. 

His gestures were so eloquent, his sigh so expressive 
and so reinvigorating, that I waited until he had given 
complete vent to it. When I saw him quite exhausted 
by it, I continued, feeling really anxious — 

“ Come ! what is it ? ” 

“ Oh, I’ve just had such a nasty turn ! ” he answered 
at last, “ Pfuiii ! ” 

I respected this new effort at relief, which, moreover 
set him right this time. 

“ You’ve had some words with my aunt, I suppose ? ” 
I added, at a venture, recollecting the cloud which 
seemed to hang over us at dinner. 

“ A regular earthquake ! ” he drawled out, in that 
appalling Marseilles accent which he falls into when- 
ever he is overcome by any strong emotion. “ Your 
aunt Eudoxia has discovered the whole hag of tricks ! 
The story of the Passy house, your aunt Gretchen, the 
children, Dirkie, and the whole blessed shop ! ” 

“But, perhaps she has only suspicions — the conse- 
quence of some gossip she has heard ? ” 

“Suspicions? he exclaimed; “why, they have met 
each other ! ” 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


335 


“ Nonsense, that’s impossible ! — Are you really sure 
of this ? ” 

“ Te ! Sure indeed? I should think so ! I return 
home to dinner, come into the drawing-room, and I 
actually find them both there, talking together. They 
were kissing each other ! ” 

“ The deuce !” I exclaimed, quite alarmed this time. 

“ Well, that was a stunner, wasn’t it, my dear boy ? ” 

“ It was indeed ! Whatever did you do ? ” 

“ I separated them, carrying Gretchen back at once 
to her carriage.” 

“ Then now I understand the chill which seemed to 
be over us all dinner-time. So, after I went out, you 
had a heavy downfall ? ” 

“ Pfuiii ! ” my uncle began again. 

This last sigh seemed to lose itself in such a vista of 
painful souvenirs, that the whcde of Théramène’s narra- 
tive would certainly have taken less time to tell. I 
proceeded as quickly as I could, foreseeing that my 
intervention would be necessary. 

“ Had I not better run over to my aunt Gretchen’s ? ” 
I asked him. 

“ Yes, I certainly think you had. I promised that, 
except in case of Ernest’s illness proving serious, they 
should all leave Paris to-morrow ! You may still have 
time to arrange that this evening,” he added, looking at 
the clock. 

“ All right, I’m off !” I replied, rising up. 

As I was about to go out, he called me back. 

“ Ah ! above all,” he continued sharply, “ don’t 


336 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


forget to tell Eudoxia to-morrow that it is you who 
have undertaken this business, and that as for me, I 
have not stirred from here ! ” 

“ That’s quite understood, uncle,” I answered, laugh- 
ing to myself at the blue funk he was in. 

Needless to add, I did not lose any time. In a 
quarter of an hour I was at Passy. It so happened 
that a favourable crisis had come over Ernest and 
relieved him, and he gave no further cause for anxiety. 
My aunt Gretchen, who had gone through all this 
business as a blind man might pass under an arch, 
without knowing anything about it, did not evince the 
least surprise on hearing that my uncle “ having 
received a telegram which had obliged him to leave 
Paris that evening, had commissioned me in his absence 
to send her off immediately to Amsterdam.” She 
entrusted me with no end of compliments for the 
Countess of Monteclaro, whose acquaintance she was 
charmed to have made. 

The next morning she was rolling away in the express, 
delighted to have made such an agreeable and enjoyable 
visit. 

A week has now passed since this affair, and beyond 
that my uncle is still quite humiliated by a malicious 
sort of gaiety affected by my aunt, who often calls him 
“ The Pasha,” instead of “ The Captain,” which is the 
title she always gave him formerly, everything has 
resumed the harmonious tranquillity of the best regu- 
lated household. Attentions, politenesses, gallantries, 
&c., are quite the order of the day. Only he is ruining 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


337 


me with all the presents he lavishes upon her ; and I 
have been forced to make serious complaints on the 
subject to my aunt, who has laughed insanely at them, 
maintaining that it is “ the sinner’s ransom.” Still, 
some kind of restrictions are necessary in families, and 
I have warned her that, if it continues, I shall stop 
“ the late Barbassou’s ” credit, seeing that he is dead. 

“ You see what a simple matter it is, as my uncle 
says,” I added. 

But she only laughed again, louder than ever. We 
have got on no further. 

Louis, go and hang yourself ! I was married yester- 
day, and you were not there ! 

The ceremony was very fine. It was at the church 
of Sainte Clotilde ; all the Faubourg St. Germain was 
there, delighted at Kondjé- Gul’s conversion, and with 
her beauty, her charming manners, and the romance 
connected with our marriage. Everyone was there who 
has made any name in the world of art, not to speak of 
that of finance. There was Baron Rothschild, who had 
a long conversation with my uncle. Three special corre- 
spondents for London newspapers were present, and all 
our own Paris reporters. High Mass, full choral; 
Faure sang his Pie Jesus , Madame Carvalho and 
Adelina Patti the Credo. 

At the entrance, the crowd nearly crushed us. 
Barbassou-Pasha, Count of Monteclaro, gave his arm 
to the bride. Poor Kondjé, what agitation, what 
emotion, what delight she evinced ! I escorted Madame 


838 


FRENCH AND ORIENTAL 


Murrah in a splendid costume, tamed but very dignified 
still, and playing her part with noble airs, like a fatalist. 
“ It was written ! ” She started off the same day to 
Rhodes, where my uncle is finding a position for her — 
as head manager of his Botany Bay. 

The Countess of Monteclaro was there, and Anna 
Campbell was smiling all over as she acted, in company 
with Maud and Susannah Montague, as bridesmaid to 
her friend Kondjé-Gul. 

It took them all exactly an hour to pass in procession 
through the vestry. We had to sign the register there, 
and my uncle headed it with his self-assumed title of 
“ The late Barbassou,” to which he clings. 

Then came the deluge of congratulations, my beautiful 
Christian wife blushing in her emotion, with her garland 
of orange-flowers. [Well, yes ! And why not ? It’s 
the custom, you know.] 

At two o’clock, back to the house, a family love-feast, 
and preparations for the flight of the young couple to 
Férouzat. Peace and joy in. all hearts. My uncle, at last 
admitted to absolution, quivering with pleasure at hear- 
ing my aunt Eudoxia calling him no longer “ Pasha,” 
but “ Captain,” as of old. 

Everywhere Love and Spring ! 

Come now, Louis, quite seriously, are you, who have 
made the experiment, quite sure that one heart suffices 
for one veritable love ? I am anxious to know. 

When evening arrived, the Count and Countess of 
Monteclaro accompanied us to the railway station. They 
will join us at the end of the month. 


LOVE IN A HAREM 


889 


I leave you to imagine for yourself all the kisses and 
salutations, promises and grandparents’ advice. 

While my aunt was exhorting Kondjé-Gul, my uncle 
favoured me with a few words on his part. 

“ You see,” he said to me quietly, standing by the 
side of our carriage, “ there is one thing which it is 
indispensable for you not to forget, and that is never on 
any account to have two wives — in the same town ! ” 
Louis, I think my uncle is a little wanting in 
principle. 














